Patent Description:
In the related art, in a car of an elevator, a stop floor registration button corresponding to a floor where the elevator can be stopped is disposed as an operation panel, and a user who gets into the car performs an operation of pressing the stop floor registration button of a target floor. For example, when the 10th floor is the target floor, a user performs an operation of pressing the stop floor registration button of the 10th floor from among a large number of stop floor registration buttons disposed corresponding to the floors where the elevator can be stopped.

When the stop floor registration button of the 10th floor is pressed, a display color of the pressed stop floor registration button of the 10th floor is changed to a noticeable color, and as such, the user can determine that the 10th floor has been registered as a stop floor.

As an advanced version of a stop floor registration button of the related art, it is proposed to dispose a touch panel having a display function as an operation panel in a car. Further, as a countermeasure against infectious diseases in recent years, it is proposed to use a non-contact type panel as a touch panel. The non-contact type panel is operated when a user brings his or her finger close to a button displayed on the display panel.

In <CIT> (PTL <NUM>), disclosed is a technique in which an operation panel in a car is configured with a non-contact type operation panel, and when non-contact operation of bringing a finger or the like close to a button is continuously performed for a certain amount of time, the button approached by the finger is turned on, a floor corresponding to the button approached by the finger in a non-contact manner is registered as a destination floor, and a registration sound is output.

<CIT> discloses an elevator comprising a car operation panel configured to detect input operations on a destination floor in a non-contact manner; and a control unit for controlling the operation of a car based on a registration status of the destination floor and entering a standby mode that allows the registration of the destination floor to be accepted when the operation of the car operation panel is detected continuously for a preset period of time. The control unit accepts the registration of the destination floor when a predetermined change is detected via the car operation panel in the standby mode.

<CIT> discloses a touch free input display control panel that may be used to hygienically operate a device. Touch free input allows the user to activate the device's functions, which are displayed on the display, without physically touching the display. The touch free display may be used with the operation of devices such as elevators, as the elevator control panel.

<CIT> discloses a device for controlling an operation of an elevator by using a monitor, comprising: a monitor, which is installed on a wall surface of a cage of an elevator, a surface of a door of the elevator, or a wall surface of a building next to the door of the elevator, wherein the monitor displays various buttons including a start button, an emergency button, and floor buttons controlling an operation of the elevator, and includes an embedded speaker; two pin cameras positioned at upper left and right sides of the monitor, respectively; and a controller, which controls operations of the various buttons of the monitor, an operation of the pin camera, and the operation of the elevator.

In the case of the technique described in PTL <NUM>, when a finger or the like approaches a button continuously for a certain amount of time (first threshold time), the button is turned on and a floor allocated to the button is registered. In this manner, when the finger or the like approaches the button continuously for the certain amount of time, the button is turned on and the floor registration is performed, thereby making it possible to prevent erroneous registration of a floor when an object such as a finger temporarily approaches a button by mistake.

However, when it takes time from the start of non-contact operation until a button is turned on, a user does not know whether the non-contact operation is detected by an operation panel, and a finger of the user is kept close to the button, and as such, there is a high possibility that the finger may touch the button. In a non-contact type operation panel, it is not desirable that a finger or the like touches a button or the like.

In this manner, in the case of a configuration in which non-contact operation is performed, it is difficult for an operator to intuitively sense how close his or her finger should approach a panel. As a result, it is difficult to perform the non-contact operation.

An object of the invention is to provide an elevator system and an elevator control method capable of performing an appropriate operation while preventing a finger or the like from touching a display panel in the case of including an operation panel capable of registering a destination floor using the display panel configured to enable non-contact operation.

In order to solve the above-described problems, for example, the configuration described in the scope of the claims is adopted.

The present application includes a plurality of means for solving the above-described problems, and one example of the plurality of units is an elevator system including an operation panel capable of registering a destination floor, in which the operation panel includes:.

According to the invention, in non-contact operation of setting a registration floor, since an operation sound is output when an approach of an object having a predetermined size or less is detected, it is possible not only to clearly notify an operator that an approach of his or her finger or the like is detected, but also to allow the operator to surely know that a destination floor is registered with lighting of a button and a display of the registration floor. Therefore, it is possible to appropriately perform destination floor registration operation while preventing the finger or the like from touching a display panel.

Problems, configurations, and effects other than those described above will be clarified by the description of the following embodiments.

An elevator system according to an embodiment of the invention (hereinafter referred to as "present example") will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<FIG> shows a configuration of the elevator system of the present example.

The elevator system of the present example includes an elevator control device <NUM> and a destination floor registration device <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. The destination floor registration device <NUM> is installed in a car. Further, a configuration of the elevator control device <NUM> shown in <FIG> shows only the configuration related to setting of a destination floor and a registration floor, and other configurations such as traveling control of the car are omitted.

The elevator control device <NUM> controls the traveling (lifting or lowering) of the car by a hoist machine based on operation of a car call button at the elevator lobby on each floor and registration operation of a stop floor in the car.

The destination floor registration device <NUM> is disposed in the car, and controls a display on a display panel <NUM> (<FIG>) having a non-contact input function disposed on an operation panel installed in the car, and a sound output from a sound device <NUM>. Further, the destination floor registration device <NUM> detects a non-contact input by a finger or the like approaching the display panel <NUM> and sends an instruction to the elevator control device <NUM>.

The non-contact input is detected by a non-contact sensor <NUM>. The display panel <NUM> includes a destination floor registration area 41a and a registration floor display area 41b. In the case of input operation in the following description, basically non-contact input operation is described, but operation of directly touching a surface of the display panel <NUM> with the finger may be included.

The destination floor indicates a target floor at which a user who gets on an elevator car gets off, and the registration floor indicates a floor registered in the elevator control device <NUM> as the destination floor. In other words, when a user inputs a target floor on the operation panel in the car and performs operation of setting a registration floor, the registration floor is registered in the elevator control device <NUM>, the display panel <NUM> displays the registration floor, and the car stops at the registration floor. However, the car may stop at a floor other than the registration floor when the car is called at the elevator lobby.

The configuration of the destination floor registration device <NUM> will be described. The destination floor registration device <NUM> includes an input processing unit <NUM>, an input determination unit <NUM>, an input information transmission unit <NUM>, a registration floor display processing unit <NUM>, a registration floor display area update unit <NUM>, a screen mode determination unit <NUM>, a destination floor registration area update unit <NUM>, and a sound output determination unit <NUM>.

The input processing unit <NUM> inputs and processes information on a detection state of the finger or the like to the display panel <NUM> in a non-contact manner by the non-contact sensor <NUM>.

The input determination unit <NUM> acquires the information on the detection state input and processed by the input processing unit <NUM>, and determines which display location on the display panel <NUM> is approached by the finger or the like to perform non-contact operation.

The input information transmission unit <NUM> performs input information transmission processing of transmitting information on the non-contact operation determined by the input determination unit <NUM> to the elevator control device <NUM>.

The registration floor display processing unit <NUM> receives information on the registration floors set by the elevator control device <NUM>, and performs registration floor display processing of displaying the registration floors in the order of floors.

The registration floor display area update unit <NUM> updates the display of the registration floor display area 41b of the display panel <NUM> based on the processing performed by the registration floor display processing unit <NUM>.

The screen mode determination unit <NUM> determines whether a mode of a display screen of the destination floor registration area 41a of the display panel <NUM> is a floor selection mode or a ten-key input mode. Specific display examples of the floor selection mode and the ten-key input mode will be described later (<FIG>). Mode determination is performed by the screen mode determination unit <NUM> based on an instruction from the elevator control device <NUM> and input determination by the input determination unit <NUM>.

The destination floor registration area update unit <NUM> updates the display of the destination floor registration area 41a of the display panel <NUM> to the mode determined by the screen mode determination unit <NUM>.

The sound output determination unit <NUM> determines whether it is time to output a sound, and outputs a sound from the sound device <NUM> disposed on an operation panel <NUM> when determining that it is time to output a sound. The sound output by the sound device <NUM> includes an operation sound indicating detection of operation, various guidance sounds of giving a notification to a passenger in the car, and the like. The determination of the timing of outputting the sound is performed by the sound output determination unit <NUM> based on information from the elevator control device <NUM> and a situation of the destination floor registration device <NUM>.

In addition, at least one of the frequency, volume, and tone color of a notification sound such as the operation sound output by the sound device <NUM> can be changed, and these changes can also be made automatically depending on preset conditions. For example, the sound device <NUM> can change at least one of the frequency, volume, and tone color of the operation sound to be output depending on the time period.

The elevator control device <NUM> includes an initial setting display information storage unit <NUM>, a display information processing unit <NUM>, a display information transmission unit <NUM>, and a destination floor registration/cancellation processing unit <NUM>.

The initial setting display information storage unit <NUM> stores initial setting information of the destination floor registration area 41a of the display panel <NUM>.

The display information processing unit <NUM> performs display information processing of displaying as a destination floor or a registration floor based on initial information on the destination floor stored in the initial setting display information storage unit <NUM>.

Display information obtained by the display information processing unit <NUM> is transmitted from the display information transmission unit <NUM> to the registration floor display processing unit <NUM> and the screen mode determination unit <NUM> of the destination floor registration device <NUM>. Here, the display information transmission unit <NUM> is supplied with information on the registration and cancellation of the destination floor from the destination floor registration/cancellation processing unit <NUM>, and when the destination floor is registered or canceled, the corresponding registration or cancellation is reflected in the display information transmitted by the display information transmission unit <NUM>.

The destination floor registration/cancellation processing unit <NUM> receives information from the input information transmission unit <NUM> of the destination floor registration device <NUM> and determines the operation of registering or canceling the destination floor in the car.

<FIG> shows a hardware configuration example when the destination floor registration device <NUM> is configured with a computer.

The destination floor registration device <NUM>, which is configured with a computer device, includes a central processing unit (CPU) 20a, a main storage unit 20b, a nonvolatile storage 20c, a network interface 20d, an input unit 20e, and an output unit 20f, all of which are connected to a bus.

The CPU 20a is an arithmetic processing unit configured to read, from the main storage unit 20b or the nonvolatile storage 20c, a program code of software that implements functions performed by the destination floor registration device <NUM>, and to execute the program code.

The CPU 20a reads the program code from the main storage unit 20b or the nonvolatile storage 20c and executes arithmetic processing in a work area of the main storage unit 20b, thereby forming various processing function units in the main storage unit 20b. That is, each processing unit such as the registration floor display processing unit <NUM> and the screen mode determination unit <NUM> shown in <FIG> is configured in the main storage unit 20b.

A large-capacity information storage medium such as a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), a memory card, or the like is used as the nonvolatile storage 20c. The nonvolatile storage 20c stores software that implements the functions of the destination floor registration device <NUM>, data obtained by executing a program of the software, and data required to set a display screen.

In the network interface 20d, for example, a network interface card (NIC) or the like is used, and data transmission/reception to/from other devices such as the elevator control device <NUM> is performed therein.

The input unit 20e performs input processing of information on the detection state of the non-contact sensor <NUM>.

The output unit 20f supplies display data to the destination floor registration area 41a and the registration floor display area 41b of the display panel <NUM>.

The configuration in which the destination floor registration device <NUM> is configured with the computer, as shown in <FIG>, is an example, and the destination floor registration device <NUM> may be configured with an arithmetic processing device other than the computer. For example, some or all of the functions performed by the destination floor registration device <NUM> may be implemented by hardware such as a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

<FIG> shows an example in which the display panel <NUM> is installed inside a car <NUM> provided in the elevator system of the present example.

<FIG> is a view showing the vicinity of a door <NUM> of the car <NUM> when viewed from inside the car <NUM>. Door side plates <NUM> and <NUM> are disposed on the left and right sides of the door <NUM>. Here, the operation panel <NUM> is disposed on the door side plate <NUM> on the right side of the door <NUM>.

The display panel <NUM>, the non-contact sensor <NUM>, and the sound device <NUM> are disposed on the operation panel <NUM>. The non-contact sensor <NUM> detects the finger approaching the vicinity of the surface of the display panel <NUM> or touching the surface thereof. Further, a card reader <NUM> is disposed below the display panel <NUM> of the operation panel <NUM>. The card reader <NUM> is used, for example, to authenticate a card carried by a passenger and to register a floor in which security is set as a destination floor.

The display panel <NUM> is configured with a liquid crystal display panel or an organic EL (organic electroluminescence) panel, and is disposed vertically in a size that fits within the lateral width of the door side plate <NUM>. The display panel <NUM> can display characters, numbers, and various graphics as described in a display example to be described later. The non-contact sensor <NUM> is configured with, for example, an infrared sensor, is disposed at the left end of the display panel <NUM>, and detects that the finger or the like approaches the surface of the display panel <NUM>.

In the example of <FIG>, the non-contact sensor <NUM> is disposed in a state of slightly protruding from the surface of the display panel <NUM>, and can scan the surface of the display panel <NUM> using infrared rays or the like.

The non-contact sensor <NUM> detects, for example, that the finger approaches the surface of the display panel <NUM> to a distance of about several centimeters from the surface thereof. At this time, the non-contact sensor <NUM> also detects a coordinate position where the finger or the like approaches any location of the display panel <NUM>.

The sound device <NUM> is disposed, for example, above the display panel <NUM>, and outputs an operation sound and various guidance sounds from a built-in speaker. Disposing the sound device <NUM> on the operation panel <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, is an example, and the sound device <NUM> may be disposed at other locations in the car <NUM>. For example, the sound device <NUM> may be disposed on the ceiling of the car <NUM>. In addition, as the sound device <NUM>, a circuit unit configured to perform processing related to a sound output and a speaker may be separately provided, and the circuit unit may be disposed on the operation panel <NUM>, and only the speaker may be disposed anywhere in the car. Particularly, if there are no restrictions such as installation space, it is desirable to install the sound device <NUM> around the operator's face position and set the appropriate volume so that the operator can hear sound. In the case of implementing the sound device <NUM> at low cost, for example, when a buzzer or the like mounted on a printed board is used, it is desirable to provide a sound emitting hole or the like near a location where the buzzer is installed.

The use of the infrared sensor as the non-contact sensor <NUM> is an example, and other sensors may be used to detect an object such as the finger approaching the surface of the display panel <NUM>. For example, the non-contact sensor <NUM> may detect the approach of the finger from a capacitance value. A non-contact sensor configured to detect the capacitance value is integrated into the display panel <NUM>.

In the example of <FIG>, a state in which the display panel <NUM> and the non-contact sensor <NUM> are installed as the operation panel <NUM> is shown, and for example, a button of giving an instruction to open the door or close the door, an emergency notification button, or the like may be disposed in the vicinity of the display panel <NUM>. Alternatively, the display panel <NUM> may display the button of giving an instruction to open the door or close the door, or the emergency notification button.

Disposing the operation panel <NUM> and the display panel <NUM> on the door side plate <NUM> on the right side of the door <NUM> is an example, and the operation panel <NUM> and the display panel <NUM> may be disposed on the door side plate <NUM> on the left side of the door <NUM>. In this case, the operation panel <NUM> and the display panel <NUM> may be disposed on either the left or right door side plate <NUM> or <NUM>, and the operation panel <NUM> and the display panel <NUM> may be disposed on both the left and right door side plates <NUM> and <NUM>. Further, when the operation panel <NUM> and the display panel <NUM> are disposed on both the left and right door side plates <NUM> and <NUM>, either one of the operation panels <NUM> may be provided with a touch panel configured to detect touch operation by a passenger or a push button.

Next, a display form of the display panel <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>.

As described above, the display panel <NUM> includes the destination floor registration area 41a and the registration floor display area 41b. As shown in <FIG>, the destination floor registration area 41a is disposed in the area on the right side of the display panel <NUM>, and the registration floor display area 41b is disposed in the area on the left side of the display panel <NUM>. The registration floor display area 41b is a relatively narrow area that can display a numerical value of the registration floor in one vertical column (or two columns), and the remaining area is the destination floor registration area 41a.

The size of each of the areas 41a and 41b may be variable. Various display forms will be described in detail below with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>.

In the case of the present example, a floor selection mode and a ten-key input mode are provided as an input mode of the destination floor.

The displays shown in the upper left and upper right of <FIG> are display examples in the floor selection mode. In the floor selection mode, a destination floor candidate button indicating a floor is directly displayed in the destination floor registration area 41a, and the registration floor is directly set by operation of the button.

That is, in the destination floor registration area 41a, a destination floor button <NUM> indicating a main floor of the building, a screen switching button <NUM>, and an input guidance <NUM> are displayed.

In the example of <FIG>, as the destination floor button <NUM>, a first floor (entrance floor), a second floor (lobby floor), a first basement floor (fourth parking lot), a second basement floor (third parking lot), a third basement floor (second parking lot), and a fourth basement floor (first parking lot), which are main floors where the frequency of stopping is high, are displayed. When the finger or the like is brought close to these destination floor buttons <NUM> and input operation is performed, a floor displayed on the operated button is directly confirmed as a registration floor without performing confirmation operation or the like.

The screen switching button <NUM> displays "<IMG>/To all floors" in Japanese and English, and by performing the input operation of the screen switching button <NUM>, the display is switched to a floor input mode (lower side of <FIG>) in which buttons such as ten keys are displayed.

In the input guidance <NUM>, "<IMG>" is displayed in Japanese to encourage a user to perform operation, and "Please select a destination floor. " is displayed in English in the same manner.

In the registration floor display area 41b, as shown in the lower left of <FIG>, a registration floor column <NUM> is displayed vertically in a single column. In the upper left and upper right examples of <FIG>, nothing is displayed in the registration floor display area 41b, which indicates that there is no registration floor.

In the registration floor column <NUM>, the registration floors with smaller numerical values are displayed in ascending order from the bottom based on the arrangement of the floors in an actual building. Since the display of the registration floor column <NUM> is based on the arrangement of the floors in the actual building, the lower the basement floor, the higher the numerical value of the floor.

The lower left example of <FIG> shows a situation in which nine registration floors are registered, and shows the registration floor column <NUM> in which the nine floors are displayed using almost the entire registration floor display area 41b.

When the number of registration floors is small, for example, the registration floors are displayed from the lower side of the registration floor display area 41b. For example, when the registration floors are the "6th floor" and the "10th floor", "<NUM>" and "<NUM>" are displayed from the bottom in the registration floor display area 41b.

In addition, even when the number of registration floors decreases due to the elevator stopping at each floor, the remaining registration floors are displayed in the registration floor display area 41b in order from the bottom.

However, displaying the registration floors from the lower side is an example. For example, the registration floors may be displayed together almost in the center, or the registration floors may be displayed from the top. An example of <FIG>, which will be described later, shows a case in which the registration floors are displayed almost in the center.

The display of the registration floor display area 41b is the same as in the cases of the floor selection mode and the ten-key input mode.

The display examples in the lower right and lower left of <FIG> are display examples in the ten-key input mode.

The ten-key input mode is a mode in which a user inputs a floor with a numerical value using the destination floor registration area 41a as a ten-key display.

That is, in the destination floor registration area 41a, ten numeric buttons including <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>,. , and <NUM>, a floor input button <NUM> including a "B" button indicating basement, a registration button <NUM>, an input floor <NUM>, a cancel button <NUM>, the input guidance <NUM>, and the screen switching button <NUM> are displayed.

The lower left example of <FIG> shows a state in which the finger approaches "<NUM>" and "<NUM>" on the floor input button <NUM> in order, and "<NUM>" is displayed in the field of the input floor <NUM>.

In the input floor <NUM>, the numerical value input with the floor input button <NUM> and "B" are displayed. When a numeric button is pressed after the "B" button, a display such as "B1" indicating the basement floor is displayed.

In addition, even if a two-digit numerical value input operation or a numerical value input operation following "B" is performed, when a floor where the elevator does not stop (floor that does not exist in the building) is input, the corresponding operation becomes invalid, and as such, the input floor is not displayed in the input floor <NUM>.

The registration button <NUM> is a button of confirming the floor displayed in the input floor <NUM> as a registration floor.

The cancel button <NUM> is a button of canceling the floor displayed in the input floor <NUM>. The cancel button <NUM> may be displayed all the time, but may be displayed only when a floor is input in the input floor <NUM> by operating the floor input button <NUM>.

The screen switching button <NUM> displays "<IMG>/To main floors" in Japanese and English, and by performing the input operation of the screen switching button <NUM>, the display is switched to the floor selection mode in which the buttons of the main floors are displayed.

The display in the registration floor display area 41b is the same as in the floor selection mode.

Next, a description will be given as to a display change of the destination floor registration area 41a shown in <FIG>. The display change shown in <FIG> shows an example in which a screen mode is switched manually by an operator.

For example, when a default screen is a display M11 in the floor selection mode shown in the upper left of <FIG>, the destination floor button <NUM> of the main floor is displayed on the default screen. The default screen is, for example, a screen when the car door <NUM> is opened in a state in which no registration floor is set.

Here, it is assumed that the screen switching button <NUM> is selected by the finger or the like approaching the screen switching button <NUM> on the default screen shown in the display M11 on which the destination floor button <NUM> of the main floor shown in the upper left of <FIG> is displayed. At this time, the default screen is changed to a display M12 shown in the upper right of <FIG>. In the display M12, the display color of the screen switching button <NUM> approached by the finger or the like is changed, whereby a user can understand that the corresponding button is operated.

In this change in display color, it is desirable, for example, to change the color to a color having high brightness so that the corresponding button appears to be lit. Although the state in which the screen switching button <NUM> is operated is shown here, the display form is also similarly changed when the finger or the like approaches buttons other than the screen switching button <NUM>.

When the screen switching button <NUM> is operated in the display M12 shown in the upper right of <FIG>, as in a display M13 shown in the lower right of <FIG>, the destination floor registration area 41a is changed to the ten-key input mode in which the floor input button <NUM> and the registration button <NUM> are displayed.

By registering the destination floor in the ten-key input mode, the registration floor column <NUM> is displayed in the registration floor display area 41b, as in a display M14 shown in the lower left of <FIG>.

Then, by operating the screen switching button <NUM> in the ten-key input mode, the destination floor registration area 41a is changed to the floor selection mode of the display M11 shown in the upper left of <FIG>.

<FIG> shows a specific example of a display change when a passenger operates the display panel <NUM> in a non-contact manner.

In a display M21 shown in the upper left of <FIG>, the destination floor registration area 41a is in the floor selection mode, and the destination floor buttons <NUM> of four specific floors "B3, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>" are displayed. In addition, since the display M21 displays the destination floor of the general floor, a screen switching button 106a performs a guidance display indicating "Switch to the shortcut page".

Note that the destination floor button <NUM> of the four floors "B3, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>" shown in the display M21 is an example, and the destination floor button <NUM> of the main floor may be displayed as in the display M11 in <FIG>, or the ten-key input mode may be displayed.

First, it is assumed that a finger h of a user (passenger) approaches a display area of the destination floor button <NUM> of the floor "<NUM>". Here, when the tip of the finger h is within a certain distance (for example, <NUM>) from the surface of the display panel <NUM>, the input determination unit <NUM> detects an approach of an object.

At a timing when the input determination unit <NUM> detects the approach of the finger h, the sound device <NUM> outputs an approach operation sound 43a. As the operation sound 43a, for example, a short-time sound such as "ping" is conceivable.

Then, after a predetermined time (for example, <NUM> seconds to <NUM> seconds) elapses in the state in which the tip of the finger h is close to the destination floor button <NUM> of the floor "<NUM>", the display panel <NUM> is changed to the display M22 shown in the upper right of <FIG>.

In the display M22, the destination floor registration area update unit <NUM> changes display brightness and display color of the destination floor button <NUM> of the floor "<NUM>" approached by the finger h, whereby the destination floor button <NUM> of the floor "<NUM>" has a display form in which the destination floor button <NUM> appears to be turned on. Regarding the "turn on" and "turn off" of buttons displayed on the display panel <NUM> described below, each of the buttons has a similar display form in which the buttons appear to be turned on or turned off.

In addition, in the case of the present example, even if a position where the finger h approaches the button is slightly away from display coordinates of the destination floor button <NUM> of the floor "<NUM>", and the destination floor button <NUM> of the floor "<NUM>" is continuously turned on if a position where the finger h approaches the button is at least a coordinate position of the destination floor registration area 41a.

When the user confirms that the destination floor button <NUM> of the floor "<NUM>" is turned on in the display M22, the user recognizes that the button operation is completed, and removes the finger h from the display panel <NUM>.

A display M23 shown in the lower left of <FIG> shows the state when the tip of the finger h is separated from the destination floor button <NUM> of the floor "<NUM>".

In the display M23, the floor "<NUM>" of the destination floor button <NUM> operated this time is confirmed as a registration floor, and the registration floor column <NUM> indicating the registration floor "<NUM>" is displayed almost in the center of the registration floor display area 41b. It is an example to display the number of the registration floor <NUM> almost in the center of the registration floor display area 41b, and the number of the registration floor column <NUM> may be displayed at the bottom or top of the registration floor display area 41b.

In the display M23 in <FIG>, since there is no registration floor before the operation is performed, only "<NUM>" is displayed in the registration floor column <NUM>, but when another registration floor is displayed before the operation is performed, "<NUM>" is added to the registration floor column <NUM> that is already displayed.

When a new registration floor is added to the registration floor column <NUM>, the registration floor column <NUM> is displayed in the order of the floors. Note that the number indicating the newly added registration floor in the registration floor display area 41b may be displayed in a more emphasized manner than the numbers of other registration floors that are already displayed for a predetermined time.

In addition, the destination floor button <NUM> of the floor "<NUM>" from which the finger h is separated is continuously turned on at the time of the display M23, and the destination floor button <NUM> is turned off after the slight time elapses (for example, about <NUM> to <NUM> second elapse) from the start of the display M23.

Then, even if the destination floor registration area 41a is changed from the display M23 to another screen such as the main floor display, as in a display M24 shown in the lower right of <FIG>, the display of the registration floor column <NUM> in the registration floor display area 41b maintains the display before the change. However, the display of the registration floor column <NUM> in the registration floor display area 41b is changed every time the car <NUM> arrives at the displayed floor.

Next, processing performed by the destination floor registration device <NUM> in order for the display panel <NUM> to perform the display described so far will be described.

<FIG> is a flowchart showing a flow of input determination processing performed by the input determination unit <NUM> of the destination floor registration device <NUM>.

The input determination unit <NUM> determines whether the non-contact sensor <NUM> in the input processing unit <NUM> detects the approach of the object (finger) to the destination floor registration area 41a of the display panel <NUM> (step S101). When the approach of the object to the destination floor registration area 41a is not detected in step S101 (No in step S101), the input determination unit <NUM> ends the determination processing.

Then, in step S101, when the approach of the object to the destination floor registration area 41a is detected (Yes in step S101), the input determination unit <NUM> determines whether an area in which the approach of the object is detected is an operation button within the destination floor registration area (step S102). In step S102, when the detected area is not the operation button (No in step S102), the input determination unit <NUM> waits until the approach of the object to the operation button is detected.

Then, in step S102, when the detected area is the operation button (Yes in step S102), the operation panel makes an operation sound (step S103), and the input determination unit <NUM> determines whether the approach of the object is performed for a predetermined time or longer (step S104). Making the operation sound in step S103 is an output of a short-time sound for notifying the user that the operation is received. Further, the output of the operation sound in step S103 is executed at the stage where the operation is not confirmed yet, and is executed before the input information transmission unit <NUM> transmits operation information based on approach detection to the elevator control device <NUM>. Here, regarding the operation sound, when the elevator control device <NUM> gives an instruction, the response becomes slow. For this reason, by executing the instruction from the input determination unit <NUM> in the sound output determination unit <NUM> of the destination floor registration device <NUM>, the response of the sound output can be improved, and the approach of the operator's finger to the button can be further suppressed.

In step S104, when the approach of the object is not performed for a predetermined time or longer (No in step S104), the input determination unit <NUM> repeats the determination of step S104. The predetermined time here is, for example, <NUM> seconds, which is assumed to be the minimum duration during operation by the finger or the like. Here, the predetermined time is set in order to eliminate a case in which an object such as a finger accidentally approaches the display panel <NUM>.

When it is detected in step S104 that the approach of the object is performed for the predetermined time or longer (Yes in step S104), the destination floor registration device <NUM> changes display brightness or display color of the button so that the corresponding button is turned on (step S105).

After that, the input determination unit <NUM> determines whether separation of the object (finger) is detected (step S106). When no separation of the object is detected in step S106 (No in step S106), separation detection of the object is repeated.

Then, when the separation of the object is detected in step S106 (Yes in step S106), the destination floor registration device <NUM> restores the light emission brightness or the light emission color of the button so that the corresponding button is turned off (step S107). However, since the floor selection button is turned on when the floor selection button is registered, the floor selection button is turned off after the predetermined time elapses, whereby the floor selection button can be continuously turned on when the floor selection button is registered within the predetermined time.

After that, the input determination unit <NUM> determines whether the selected button caused to be turned on in step S105 is a button other than the screen switching button (step S108). In step S108, when the selected button, which is caused to be turned on, is a button other than the screen switching button (Yes in step S108), the input information transmission unit <NUM> transmits information on the selected button to the elevator control device <NUM> (step S109).

Further, in step S108, when the selected button, which is caused to be turned on, is the screen switching button (No in step S108), the destination floor registration device <NUM> switches the display mode of the destination floor registration area 41a (step S110).

<FIG> and <FIG> are flowcharts showing a flow of destination floor registration processing performed by the destination floor registration area update unit <NUM>. "A" in <FIG> leads to "A" in <FIG>.

First, the destination floor registration area update unit <NUM> determines whether the input destination floor is displayed (step S111). In other words, the destination floor registration area update unit <NUM> determines whether there is a display of the input floor <NUM> as in the display M14 in <FIG>.

When the input destination floor is displayed in step S111 (Yes in step S111), the destination floor registration area update unit <NUM> displays the cancel button <NUM> (<FIG>) (step S112).

Then, in step Sill, when the input destination floor is not displayed (No in step S111), after the cancel button <NUM> is displayed in step S112, the input determination unit <NUM> determines whether the approach of the object (such as a finger) to the detection area in the destination floor registration area 41a is detected (step S113).

When the approach of the object to the detection area is not detected in step S113 (No in step S113), the destination floor registration device <NUM> ends the destination floor registration processing.

Next, when the approach of the object to the detection area is detected in step S113 (Yes in step S113), the input determination unit <NUM> determines whether the area where the approach of the object is detected is an operation button in the destination floor registration area (step S114). In step S114, when the area is not the operation button in the destination floor registration area (No in step S114), the destination floor registration area update unit <NUM> waits until the operation button in the destination floor registration area is detected.

Then, in step S114, when the object detection area is the operation button in the destination floor registration area (Yes in step S114), the operation panel makes an operation sound (step S115), and the input determination unit <NUM> determines whether the approach of the object is performed for a predetermined time or longer (step S116). In step S116, when the approach of the object is not performed for the predetermined time or longer (No in step S116), the input determination unit <NUM> repeats the determination in step S116.

When it is determined in step S116 that the approach of the object is performed for the predetermined time or longer (Yes in step S116), the destination floor registration device <NUM> changes light emission brightness or light emission color of the button so that the corresponding button is turned on (step S117).

After that, the processing proceeds to processing in <FIG>, and the input determination unit <NUM> determines whether separation of the object (finger) is detected (step S118). In step S118, when no separation of the object is detected (No in step S118), the input determination unit <NUM> repeats the separation detection of the object.

Then, in step S118, when the separation of the object is detected (Yes in step S118), the destination floor registration device <NUM> restores the light emission brightness or the light emission color of the button so that the corresponding button is turned off (step S119).

After that, the input determination unit <NUM> determines whether the selected button, which is caused to be turned on in step S117, is a button other than the screen switching button (step S120). In step S120, when the selected button is a button other than the screen switching button (Yes in step S120), the destination floor registration device <NUM> displays the floor of the selected button on the input floor <NUM> (<FIG>) (step S121).

Additionally, in step S120, when the selected button is the screen switching button (No in step S120), the destination floor registration device <NUM> switches the display mode in the destination floor registration area 41a (step S126).

Furthermore, after the floor of the selected button in step S121 is displayed, the input determination unit <NUM> determines whether the operation of the registration button <NUM> (<FIG>) is detected (step S122).

When the operation of the registration button <NUM> is detected in step S122 (Yes in step S122), the input information transmission unit <NUM> transmits information on the selected button to the elevator control device <NUM> (step S123).

After that, the destination floor registration device <NUM> erases the display of the input floor <NUM> (step S124).

Additionally, when the operation of the registration button <NUM> is not detected in step S122 (No in step S122), the input determination unit <NUM> determines whether the operation of the cancel button <NUM> (<FIG>) is detected (step S125).

When the operation of the cancel button <NUM> is detected in step S125 (Yes in step S125), the processing proceeds to step S124, and the destination floor registration device <NUM> erases the display of the input floor <NUM>.

Further, when the operation of the cancel button <NUM> is not detected in step S125 (No in step S125), the destination floor registration device <NUM> ends the processing.

<FIG> is a flowchart showing a flow of update processing for the display of the registration floor.

First, the registration floor display processing unit <NUM> receives information on the registration floor from the elevator control device <NUM> (step S131). At this time, the registration floor display area update unit <NUM> determines whether the registration floor received in step S131 is changed from the currently displayed registration floor (step S132).

When it is determined in step S132 that there is no change in information on the received registration floor (No in step S132), the registration floor display area update unit <NUM> returns to registration floor data receiving processing in the registration floor display processing unit <NUM>.

Next, in step S132, when it is determined that there is a change in information on the received registration floor (Yes in step S132), the registration floor display area update unit <NUM> rearranges the registration floors received by the registration floor display processing unit <NUM> in display order, and then updates the display of the registration floor display area 41b (step S133).

<FIG> is a flowchart showing a flow of operation sound output processing by the destination floor registration device <NUM> and the sound device <NUM>.

First, the input determination unit <NUM> of the destination floor registration device <NUM> determines whether the approach of the object to the surface of the display panel <NUM> is detected (step S141). When the approach of the object to the surface of the display panel <NUM> is not detected in step S141 (No in step S141), the sound device <NUM> ends the operation sound output processing.

When the approach of the object to the surface of the display panel <NUM> is detected in step S141 (Yes in step S141), the input determination unit <NUM> determines whether an area in which the approach of the object is detected is an operable area including a display such as a button (step S142). When it is determined in step S142 that the area is not operable (No in step S142), the sound device <NUM> ends the operation sound output processing.

When it is determined that the area is operable in step S142 (Yes in step S142), the input determination unit <NUM> determines whether another operation in the same operation area is being detected (step S143). Detecting another operation in the same operation area indicates a situation in which, when an approach to a coordinate position of a certain button in the destination floor registration area 41a is detected, a coordinate position of another button in the destination floor registration area 41a is being detected just before that.

When it is determined in step S143 that another operation in the same operation area is being detected (No in step S143), the sound device <NUM> ends the operation sound output processing.

Here, "detecting another operation in the same operation area" is provided to prevent temporary erroneous detection because an area other than a button approached by the finger may be temporarily erroneously detected when the finger of the operator approaches the button.

When another operation in the same operation area is not being detected in step S143 (Yes in step S143), the sound output determination unit <NUM> determines whether any sound is currently being output from the sound device <NUM> (step S144). When any sound is being output from the sound device <NUM> in step S144 (No in step S144), the sound device <NUM> ends the operation sound output processing. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent a situation in which, in the case of non-contact detection, finger wobbling often occurs, and depending on characteristics of an operation sound output device and an operation sound output processing method thereof, unintended multiple operation sounds, such as multiple operation sounds for one operation performed by a user, are output.

When no sound is being output from the sound device <NUM> in step S144 (Yes in step S144), the input determination unit <NUM> determines whether an amount of change in the coordinate position of the object, the approach of which is detected, is within a predetermined value (step S145). The determination as to whether the amount of change in the coordinate position is within the predetermined value is performed to confirm the state in which, even if the position of the object (finger) approaching the button in a non-contact manner changes slightly, the area approached by the finger in step S142 is continuously operated. In other words, even if the finger of the user wobbles slightly, it is determined that the user is operating the same button.

When the amount of change in the coordinate position is not within the predetermined value in step S145 (No in step S145), the sound output determination unit <NUM> determines that the button operation is not performed. Then, the sound device <NUM> ends the operation sound output processing. Accordingly, since the non-contact operation causes finger wobbling and the coordinate position of the finger approaching the button always changes slightly, it is desirable to provide an allowable range for the change in the coordinate position.

When the amount of change in the coordinate position is within a predetermined value (first threshold) in step S145 (Yes in step S145), the sound output determination unit <NUM> causes the sound device <NUM> to output a short operation sound such as "ping" (step S146).

The operation sound output in step S146 is a sound in which at least one of the frequency, tone color, and volume of the sound is variably set depending on the time period during which the elevator is in operation. For example, during nighttime, the volume of the operation sound is reduced or the tone color of the sound is changed so that the operation sound does not leak to the periphery of the elevator in the building. Conversely, during the daytime, the volume of the operation sound is increased to ensure that the operation sound reaches the passengers in the car even in a somewhat noisy situation. Any of the frequency, tone color, and volume of the sound may be changed, but for example, only the volume may be changed. For example, in accommodation facilities and residences, the volume may be reduced at night, and the volume may be increased during commuting and lunch hours when the car is crowded, such as in an office building.

<FIG> is a flowchart showing a flow of lighting processing for the operation buttons displayed on the display panel <NUM>. The lighting processing herein is processing of changing the display brightness and the display color so that the operation button is turned on.

First, the input determination unit <NUM> of the destination floor registration device <NUM> determines whether the approach of the object to the surface of the display panel <NUM> is detected (step S151). When the approach of the object to the surface of the display panel <NUM> is not detected in step S151 (No in step S151), the destination floor registration device <NUM> does not perform the lighting processing, and proceeds to a display in which the light is turned off in step S158.

When the approach of the object to the surface of the display panel <NUM> is detected in step S151 (Yes in step S151), the input determination unit <NUM> determines whether an area in which the approach of the object is detected is an operable area including a display such as a button (step S152). When it is determined in step S152 that the area is not operable (No in step S152), the destination floor registration device <NUM> does not perform the lighting processing, and proceeds to the display in which the light is turned off in step S158.

When it is determined that the area is operable in step S152 (Yes in step S152), the sound output determination unit <NUM> determines whether an operation sound or the like is currently being output (step S153). When the sound is being output in step S153 (Yes in step S153), the destination floor registration device <NUM> does not perform the lighting processing, and proceeds to the display in which the light is turned off in step S158.

When the sound is not being output in step S153 (No in step S153), the input determination unit <NUM> determines whether the approach of the object is detected in the same operation area for a predetermined time or longer (for example, <NUM> to <NUM> seconds or longer) (step S154).

In step S154, when the approach of the object is not detected in the same operation area for the predetermined time or longer (No in step S154), the input determination unit <NUM> determines whether an amount of change in coordinates in which the approach of the object is detected is within a predetermined value (step S155).

In step S155, when the amount of change in coordinates is within the predetermined value (Yes in step S155), the input determination unit <NUM> returns to the determination in step S154.

In step S155, when the amount of change in coordinates is not within the predetermined value (No in step S155), the destination floor registration device <NUM> does not perform the lighting processing, and proceeds to the display in which the light is turned off in step S158. As a result, when the amount of change in coordinates is equal to or greater than the predetermined value, it is possible to prevent detection unintended by an operator, such as erroneous detection of another button while the finger is being brought closer to a target button.

In step S154, when the approach of the object is detected in the same operation area for the predetermined time or longer (Yes in step S154), the destination floor registration area update unit <NUM> changes a display form of a button that detects the approach of the object, and turns on the button (step S156).

After that, the input determination unit <NUM> determines whether the approach of the object is no longer detected from the same operation area (that is, the same button area) (step S157).

While the approach of the object is being detected in step S157 (No in step S157), the input determination unit <NUM> waits until the approach of the object is no longer detected.

Then, when the input determination unit <NUM> does not detect the approach of the object in step S157 (Yes in step S157), the destination floor registration area update unit <NUM> changes the display form of the button that detects the approach of the object, and turns off the button (step S158). Here, when the finger is separated from the area of the selected button, confirmation processing of the selected button, that is, the display processing of the selected button in the ten-key input mode is performed, thereby making it possible to prevent erroneous detection caused by finger wobbling and erroneous detection of different locations of the hand during selection.

According to the elevator system of the present example described above, when the display panel <NUM> of the operation panel <NUM> can be operated without contact, appropriate non-contact operation can be performed.

That is, since the destination floor registration device <NUM> immediately outputs an operation sound upon determining that an object such as a finger is approaching a button, an operator is clearly notified that the approach of the finger or the like is detected. Therefore, the output of the operation sound informs the operator that his or her finger or the like is recognized, and the operator does not bring his or her finger or the like closer to the button, thereby making it possible to appropriately prevent the finger from touching the display panel.

In addition, after the output of the operation sound is performed, a change in the lighting state of the button and a display of the registration floor in the registration floor display area 42b indicate that the destination floor registration is correctly received, thereby confirming that the registration of the destination floor is completed. Therefore, it is possible to appropriately perform the destination floor registration operation while preventing the finger or the like from touching the display panel.

In this case, since the operation sound is output before the input information transmission unit <NUM> transmits information based on the approach detection of the object to the elevator control device <NUM>, the operation sound output is performed simultaneously with the approach detection, thereby making it possible to output a quick operation sound with good response.

Further, since at least one of the frequency, volume, and tone color of the operation sound output by the sound device <NUM> can be changed depending on the time period, it is possible to reliably transmit the operation sound to a passenger in a relatively noisy situation such as during the day, and it is also possible to prevent the operation sound from leaking to the periphery of the elevator in a quiet situation such as at night.

Additionally, in the case of the present example, as described in <FIG>, a timing of displaying the destination floor allocated to the button on the display panel <NUM> as the registration floor is synchronized with a timing of changing the button at a location where the approach of the object to the display panel <NUM> is detected to a lighting display. As a result, it can be seen that the display change and the registration are associated with each other, thereby improving operability.

Further, after the input determination unit <NUM> detects the approach of the object, when an amount of change in coordinates at which the approach of the object to the display panel <NUM> is detected is within the first threshold, the sound device <NUM> outputs an operation sound, thereby making it possible to confirm, from the output of the operation sound, that the operation is received even if the finger wobbles.

Furthermore, as described in step S154 of <FIG>, when the input determination unit <NUM> continuously detects the approach of the object to the area where the non-contact operation can be performed on the display panel <NUM> for a predetermined time or longer, the button is changed to the lighting display, thereby making it possible to prevent the button from lighting up due to temporary approach of the finger or the like. Accordingly, malfunction can be prevented appropriately.

Additionally, as described in step S155 of <FIG>, when the amount of change in the coordinates of the object, the approach of which is detected by the input determination unit <NUM>, is within the predetermined value after the button is changed to the lighting display, the lighting display of the button is continuously performed. In this manner, it becomes possible to know that the operation is received even if the finger wobbles.

The embodiments described so far have been described in detail in order to explain the invention in an easy-to-understand manner, and are not necessarily limited to those having all the configurations described.

In addition, the display examples shown in the respective drawing are also preferred examples, and are not limited to these examples.

For example, in the above-described embodiments, the buttons of the main floors are displayed on the default screen, but a screen on which ten-key display is performed may be a default screen. Either one of these screens may be set to a default screen depending on a stop floor of a car or the time of day.

In addition, in the above-described embodiments, an example applied to a display panel of an operation panel in a car has been described, but for example, a display panel disposed at the landing may be displayed in the same manner.

In addition, in the configuration diagrams shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, only those control lines and information lines that are considered necessary for description are shown, and all control lines and information lines are not necessarily shown on the product. In practice, it may be considered that almost all configurations are interconnected.

In addition, the flows of processing shown in the flowcharts shown in <FIG> are also examples. As long as the processing results are the same, the order of some processing may be changed, or a plurality of processing may be executed simultaneously.

Claim 1:
An elevator system comprising an operation panel (<NUM>) capable of registering a destination floor, wherein the operation panel (<NUM>) includes
an input determination unit (<NUM>) configured to detect a non-contact operation in which an object approaches a display panel (<NUM>),
an input information transmission unit (<NUM>) configured to transmit information based on an operation detected by the input determination unit (<NUM>) to an elevator control device (<NUM>), and
a registration floor display processing unit (<NUM>) configured to display a registration floor received from the elevator control device (<NUM>) on the display panel (<NUM>), wherein
the operation panel (<NUM>) outputs an operation sound from a sound device (<NUM>) when the input determination unit (<NUM>) detects an approach of the object, and changes a display of a button displayed at a location where the approach of the object to the display panel (<NUM>) is detected when the input determination unit (<NUM>) detects the approach of the object continuously for a predetermined time, and
the registration floor display processing unit (<NUM>), when the input determination unit (<NUM>) no longer detects the approach of the object, causes the display panel (<NUM>) to display the destination floor allocated to the button as the registration floor.