 |
Description  |
|
|
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an information device of an elevator, and more
particularly to an information device of a group-controlled elevator
system which has display devices that are suitable for informing waiting
passengers and giving them information.
Such a device in the prior art is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open
No. 92880/1984, wherein a camera is provided in a car for the purpose of
displaying to waiting passengers at each floor a picture obtained by the
camera to show the degree of crowding in the car, in addition to
information such as the position of the car and previously registered
car-calling floor numbers when the car reaches or is to reach each floor.
Another type is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 43989/1981,
wherein the position of the car of the elevator is displayed at the floor
where the car is about to arrive.
However, in the prior art, the device in which a camera is provided needs a
camera, so its cost becomes high. Furthermore, a problem regarding the
privacy of passengers is raised because the passengers in the car are
filmed. On the other hand, the device in which the position of the car is
displayed at the floor where the car is about to arrive is not very
expensive. However, if a reserved car moves away from the floor at which
the passengers are waiting, the waiting passengers will not trust the
device. Neither of the prior-art devices described above can give the
waiting passengers clear information relevant to the service conditions.
An object of the present invention is to provide an information device of
an elevator which can display the service conditions of the elevator to
waiting passengers in such a manner that they can easily understand them
without becoming confused, impatient, or distrustful.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The above object is achieved, as the first characteristic of this
invention, by providing service information devices which are disposed at
each boarding place; evaluation value arithmetic means for obtaining an
evaluation value from the state of the elevator; means for judging at
least said evaluation value and determining a type of display pattern of
the service information device; and processing means for generating
picture data of the service information device in accordance with
information showing the state of the elevator and the thus-determined type
of display pattern. As a result, service conditions of the elevator (such
as arrival information, the state in the car, the floors at which it will
stop, the waiting time, the position of the car) and a message
corresponding to the conditions of the elevator are displayed by the
service information device (display), using pictures and characters.
Furthermore, the above object is achieved, as the second characteristic of
this invention, by providing means for judging the fact whether the
evaluation value satisfies predetermined conditions (generated when an
automatic operation mode is detected, when a controlled operation mode is
detected, when a hall call at the relevant floor is detected, when a car
is detected at a location within a predetermined number of floors of and
upstream of the floor making a hall call, when the waiting time is shorter
than a predetermined time) and determining whether a display pattern
displayed by the service information device is operation information on
the elevator (number of passengers in a car, the position of the car,
reserved floor at which the car is about to stop, relevant floor mark, the
direction of travel of the car) or general information (building
information, time information, weather report) other than the operating
information, and means for generating picture data.
Since information relevant to the service conditions of a car of the
elevator can be provided for waiting passengers, floor reservation and
similar information can be smoothly offered. As a result, the impatience
and distrust which can occur when passengers have to wait for a long time
can be prevented.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an overall block diagram of an information
device of an elevator according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 shows the positions of the displays;
FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of a flowchart of a processing program in a
service condition evaluating portion shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of a flowchart of a processing program in a
pattern selection portion shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 shows an example of output data which has been generated in the data
output processing portion shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 6 shows another example of the output data which has been generated in
the data output processing portion shown in FIG. 1;
FIGS. 7a-h show an embodiments of display patterns;
FIGS. 8a and b, 9a-c and 10 show examples of display patterns according to
the other embodiments;
FIG. 11 shows a flowchart according to another embodiment; and
FIG. 12 shows an example of variation of display pattern according the
other embodiment.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention will now be described with reference to embodiments
shown in FIGS. 1 to 7.
FIG. 1 is an overall block diagram of an embodiment of an information
device of an elevator according to the present invention. FIG. 2
illustrates the positions at which displays are disposed. Although FIG. 2
shows displays 5a and 5b are disposed above doors 6a and 6b at each floor,
they may of course be disposed beside the doors 6a and 6b or be integrally
formed with the doors 6a and 6b. In a group-controlled elevator system,
one display may be provided for the group of cars. Reference numeral 7
represents a hall calling registration device.
The structure shown in FIG. 1 will now be summarized. The structure
comprises in main a group administration and control portion 1, a car
control portion 2, a data processing portion 3 for the displays, a display
driving portion 4, and displays 5a to 5n.
The data processing portion 3 for the displays comprises a service
condition evaluating portion 3a, a pattern selection portion 3b, and a
data output processing portion 3c.
The service condition evaluating portion 3a evaluates signals supplied from
the car control portion 2 indicating the conditions of the elevator (such
as the position of the car, the car calling floors, the assigned hall
calling floor, and the number of passengers in the car) and outputs the
result as a service condition flag to the pattern selection portion 3b.
The pattern selection portion 3b selects the most suitable type of display
pattern to be displayed by the displays 5a to 5n, based upon the signal
indicating the conditions of the elevator and the service condition flag
supplied from the service condition evaluating portion 3a. The pattern
selection portion 3b outputs the selected type of pattern to the data
output processing portion 3c. The data output processing portion 3c
generates the selected type of display pattern obtained from the pattern
selection portion 3b and the signals indicating the conditions of the
elevator, and outputs the generated signal to the display driving portion
4.
The display driving portion 4 generates picture data, using data supplied
from the data output processing portion 3c, and outputs it to the displays
5a to 5n.
The displays 5a to 5n are, as described above, disposed in the hall on each
floor or in predetermined halls, and display pictures using picture data
from the display driving portion 4. Liquid-crystal displays, CRTs, or the
like are employed as the displays 5a to 5n.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a processing program in
the service condition evaluating portion 3a. This program is periodically
actuated, for example, every second, and evaluates the service conditions
for hall calls, and outputs the result of the evaluation as service
condition flags {LT(i), MW(i)}.
First, a variable i for each floor being processed is initialized in step
A10, and the subsequent processes are looped for each of the floors. In
step A20, the system determines whether the estimated arrival time exceeds
30 seconds after the car calling has been made. If the answer is YES, the
state is determined to be a long wait, and the flow moves to step A30 in
which 1 is set in a long wait flag LT(i). If the determination of step A20
gives the answer NO, the flow moves to step A40 in which the long wait
flag is cleared. Then, in step A50, the system determines to stop the car
at a floor at which a large number of passengers are to get off (large
exodus floor), from the calls from the car and whether the load in the car
exceeds 65%. If answer is YES, the state is evaluated as a large exodus,
and the flow moves to step A60 in which 1 is set in the large exodus flag
MW(i). If the determination in step A50 gives the answer NO, the flow
moves to step A70 in which the large exodus flag is cleared.
Table 1 shows the relationships between the pattern selection conditions
selected by the pattern selection portion 3b and the details to be
displayed. The pattern selection portion 3b selects the type of pattern in
accordance with the conditions shown in Table 1, and determines the
display according to the selected type of pattern and the conditions
(displayed details) of the elevator. For example, if the elevator is in a
special operation mode, the display pattern becomes 1, whereby the
displayed details are formed by the operation mode and a message relating
to that mode. An example of this is shown in FIG. 7(a).
FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an example of a processing program in the pattern
selection portion 3b. The contents of this drawing are a realization of
the details given in Table 1, but in which the processing of display
patterns 9 and 10 of Table 1 are omitted.
TABLE 1
______________________________________
Pattern
Condition Details of display
FIGURE
______________________________________
0 Not applied to
No display --
any of the
following
conditions
1 Special operation
Details of the
7-(a)
mode (manual, operation mode
exclusive,
maintenance,
administration,
operation
control)
2 Reopen Time until door
7-(b)
closes
3 Arriving at a Operating 7-(c)
decelerated speed
direction
at a hall calling
(flicker)
floor
4 Reassign to Reassignment or
7-(d)
another car or
car No. which
other car will
arrives earlier
arrive earlier at
and its direction
a car call (flicker)
5 Assignment Position of the
7-(e)
received but car, operating
operating in the
direction, and
opposite door open or
direction closed condition
6 Long wait flag
Position of the
7-(f)
LT = 1 car, operating
direction, car
stopping floors
(car call, hall
call), door open
and closed state,
mean wait time
7 Car is about to
Position of car,
7-(g)
arrive earlier by
operating
a hall call direction, door
assignment of car
open and closed
call state
8 Large exodus 7-(h)
flag WT = 1
9 Building informa-
Building informa-
--
tion required tion
10 Two or more cars
Order of starting
--
wait at one floor
______________________________________
First in step B10, the variable i for processed floors is initialized.
The following processe are looped for each of the floors. In step B20, 0 is
set in the variable of the display pattern No. P(i). Then, in step B30,
whether the system is in a special operation mode is determined. If the
answer is YES, the flow moves to step B40 in which P(i) is set to 1. If
the answer is NO, the flow moves to the next step B50. In step B50,
whether the system is in a reopen process is determined. If the answer is
YES, the flow moves to step B60 in which P(i) is set to 0. If the answer
is NO, the flow moves to the next step B70. In step B70, whether the car
speed is decelerating to the floor in which a hall call is made is
determined. If the answer is YES, the flow moves to step B80 in which P(i)
is set to 3. If the answer is NO, the flow moves to the next step B90. In
step B90, whether an assigned hall call is made and another car is about
to arrive earlier at a car call or the assignment is changed to another
car is determined. If the answer is YES, the flow moves to step B100 in
which whether the other car has arrived is determined. If the answer is
NO, the flow moves to step B110 in which P(i) is set to 4. If the answer
is YES, the flow moves to the process for the next floor. If the answer is
NO in step B90, the flow moves to the next step B120 in which whether the
assigned hall call is available or whether a car-called car is about to
arrive earlier than the other car which has the assigned hall call is
determined. If the answer is NO, the flow moves to the process for the
next floor. If the answer is YES, the flow moves to step B130 in which
whether the car is running in the opposite direction from the processed
floor is determined. If the answer is YES, the flow moves to step B140 in
which P(i) is set to 5. If the answer is NO, the flow moves to the next
step B150. In step B150, whether it is long wait flag LT(i)=1 is
determined. If the answer is YES, the flow moves to step B160 in which
P(i) is set to 6. If the answer is NO, the flow moves to the next step
B170. In step B170, whether it is large exodus flag MW(i)=1 is determined.
If the answer is YES, the flow moves to step B180 in which P(i) is set to
8. If the answer is NO, the flow moves to step B190 in which P(i) is set
to 7, and moves to the process for the next floor.
FIG. 5 illustrates an example of output data which is generated in the data
output processing portion 3c shown in FIG. 1. The pattern Nos. which have
been selected in the pattern selection portion 3b and parameters (elevator
state signal) which are necessary for the details to be displayed are
arranged for the required number of floors. The pattern Nos. and the
parameters are sent periodically to the display driving portion 4 shown in
FIG. 1.
FIG. 6 illustrates another example of output data generated in the data
output processing portion 3c, in which channels show the floor to which
data is applied.
FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment of the display patterns, and the detail
will now be described.
FIG. 7(a) shows that the elevator system is in a maintenance state and the
operation starting time is also shown. FIG. 7(b) shows a message when the
door is opened at a hall call and the time until the door will be closed.
FIG. 7(c) shows a message when the car is to arrive and the operating
direction. FIG. 7(d) shows the direction of the car and car No. and a
message in order to inform the waiting passengers when hall call is
reassigned to another car or another car arrives earlier at a car call.
FIG. 7(e) shows a message so as to make passengers feel easy when the car
is moving away from the floor at which the waiting passengers exist when
the call is assigned. FIG. 7(f) shows the floors at which the car will
stop, a mean wait time, and the number of passengers in the car when a
long wait is expected for the purpose of preventing the waiting passengers
from getting tired and impatience. FIG. 7(g) shows information on a
certain car when a hall call is assigned or a car is about to arrive
earlier at a car call, and the position of the car and the operating
direction are also displayed. FIG. 7(h) shows a message for warning the
waiting passengers when large exodus is expected.
According to the present invention, suitable messages can be displayed for
the waiting passengers when the reservation is changed, a car will arrive
earlier at a car call, a car moves in the opposite direction although a
hall call is assigned. As a result of this, the waiting passengers can be
prevented from feeling untrust and impatience. Consequently, the waiting
passengers can be guided smoothly.
Another embodiment of the present invention will now be described.
The pattern 9 shown on Table 1 is a mode for displaying building
information classified as general information (general information such as
information on an event held in the building, time information, weather
reports and so forth, such information being not related to the operation
of the elevator) for the convenience of passengers, the general
information being displayed at all times or when a long waiting is
expected.
The characteristic of this embodiment lies in the fact that such general
information and operating information are alternately displayed, and that
in certain circumstances operating information is given priority.
In this embodiment, operating information is arranged to be displayed in
such a manner, as shown in FIG. 9, that the number of passengers in a car,
the position of a car, the floor at which the car is about to stop,
relevant floor mark, the direction of travel of a car are shown, instead
of displaying various conditions (mainly they are messages) according to
the conditions of each car, for the purpose of using common display
patterns.
Referring to FIG. 8, display modes in this embodiment will now be
described. FIG. 8 illustrates displays 5a and 5b disposed at the third
floor when this invention is applied to an elevator which serves four
floors. FIG. 8(a) illustrates a case where a weather report is selected
from a plurality of information as general information to be displayed.
The general information can include, in addition to the illustrated
weather report, the present time, event or sales information at a given
floor, train departure times in the case of a station building. None of
these are regarded as being operating information on the elevator (6a, 6b,
7a, 7b are the same as those shown in FIG. 2).
FIG. 8(b) shows a state where the operating condition of the elevator
assumes a predetermined state, for example, a state where the car is about
to reach a given this floor, whereupon a display mode for displaying
general information is interrupted and switched to an elevator operating
information display mode.
Among the various operating information displays which can be employed, the
following displays are utilized in this embodiment as shown in FIG. 9(a).
(i) Position of the car which is being operated (square mark)
(ii) Direction of travel of the car which is being operated (triangular
mark facing upwardly or downwardly)
(iii) Floor where the car is about to stop in response to a car call or
hall call (round mark)
(iv) Relevant floor mark (floor number is displayed by lighting the area
rounded by a circle in a flicking manner)
(v) Number of passengers in a car (the pictorial representation of human is
partially lit up)
The display of the operating conditions of the elevator changes in
accordance with the operating conditions as shown in FIGS. 9(b) and 9(c).
FIG. 9(b) illustrates a display showing a state in which the car is stopped
at the second floor and the number of passengers in the car is 50% of the
limit for that car. FIG. 9(c) illustrates a state in which the car arrives
at the third floor where the car has been called and the door of the car
is opened.
The particular conditions employed in this embodiment which serve to change
over the general information to information on the operating condition of
the elevator, and which are chosen from the various conditions which could
potentially be employed are as follows:
(i) when automatic operation mode is detected
(ii) when controlled operation mode is detected
(iii) when a hall call made at this floor is detected
(iv) when a car is detected at a location within a predetermined number of
floors of and upstream of a floor at which the hall call was made
(v) when waiting time at the hall is shorter than a predetermined time
In addition to the conditions described above, a condition where a
waiting-passenger sensor detects waiting passengers can be employed.
Referring to FIG. 10, an example of display patterns where this invention
applies to an elevator system which serves a plurality of elevators will
now be described. In this example, displays 5a to 5c for three elevators
(#A, #B, #C) are provided. Each of the display devices of the elevators #A
and #C show general information, while that of the elevator #B show
operating information on the elevator. That is, only the assigned elevator
displays the operating condition of the elevator. In this state, general
information displayed in the elevators other than the assigned elevator
can, of course, include information which is different for each or it may
be the same general information.
Referring to FIG. 11, a flowchart according to another embodiment will now
be described. This flowchart is substantially the same as that shown in
FIG. 4, and the details are therefore omitted.
In step C10, initializing is performed, and in step C20, in which of five
conditions the elevator is operated is detected. In step C30, whether a
predetermined condition is satisfied is determined. If the answer is YES,
the flow moves to step C40 in which information on the operating condition
shown in FIG. 9 is displayed. If the answer is NO, the flow moves to the
next step C50 in which whether general information (building information
or the like) is to be displayed is determined, and in which predetermined
conditions, for example, a condition in which a long waiting is detected,
a condition of a predetermined time, and a condition in which the elevator
has not been used for a predetermined time are provided to be determined
(in a case where the display is always displayed, the answer is always
YES). In step C50, if the answer is YES, the flow moves to step C60 in
which general information is displayed. If the answer is NO, no display is
displayed. In step C70, all of the floors are loop-processed.
In this embodiment, the following benefits can be obtained.
(i) Since the operating condition of the elevator has a displaying priority
over general information if a predetermined condition of the operating
information on the elevator is met, a display which is suitable for the
waiting passengers' mental states can be obtained so that they do not get
irritated.
(ii) Since one display device in a hall displays both operating information
on the elevator and general information, the waiting passengers need to
look at only one display device and thus they are less mentally burdened.
(iii) Since the number of display devices in a hall does not need to be
increased, costs can be kept low.
Next, a variation of this embodiment will be described.
In the above described embodiments, operating information is displayed on
the display device of an elevator which satisfies a predetermined
condition. On the other hand, the display devices of the other elevators
display general information (or no display). In this variation, when an
assigned elevator called from a hall arrives or is about to arrive, the
displays of the elevators which are not assigned show more specific
operating information that the assigned car is about to arrive.
FIG. 12 illustrates an example in which operating information such as the
position of the car, direction of travel, floors where the car is to stop,
relevant floor mark, number of passengers in the car, and so forth is
displayed in a routine form by the display device of the assigned
elevator, while more specific operating information is displayed by the
display device of the non-assigned elevators.
Referring to FIG. 12, when the assigned elevator arrives at the second
floor, the displays 5a and 5c of the elevators #A and #C display, as shown
in FIG. 4, a message "the car will arrive soon" for the purpose of
informing waiting passengers that the assigned car is to arrive soon, thus
allowing the waiting passengers to prepare for boarding. Another example
of a message that can be employed: "The car is departing the second floor,
please wait at the elevator whose arrival light is on" for the purpose of
informing waiting passangers that the assigned car is to arrive soon. If
the message is too long, the message can be displayed in a scroll manner.
With the present variation of the invention, the display devices display
both elevator operating information and general information. Even when the
waiting passengers are looking at the general information, a display
showing that the car is arriving or is about to arrive is displayed by the
displays of the non-assigned elevator when a car arrives or is about to
arrive. Thus, the waiting passengers can prepare for boarding, and
tardiness in boarding can be prevented.
As described above, according to the present invention, the present states
of elevators can be informed to waiting passengers, and consequently they
can be guided smoothly without causing any confusion or making them
impatient or distrustful.
* * * * *
|
|
 |
|
 |
Description |
|
