Depth sensor based sensing for special passenger conveyance loading conditions

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016289044-A1
Application number	US-201615089614-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 4, 2016
Priority date	Apr 3, 2015
Publication date	Oct 6, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A passenger conveyance special loading system includes a depth-sensing sensor for capturing depth map data of objects within a field of view. A processing module in communication with the depth-sensing sensor receives the depth map data, the processing module uses the depth map data calculate passenger data associated with an object to determine a special loading condition. A passenger conveyance controller receives the passenger data from the processing module, the passenger conveyance controller controls a passenger conveyance dispatch control function in response to the special loading condition.

First claim

1 - 23 . (canceled)

24 . A passenger conveyance special loading system, comprising:
a depth-sensing sensor for capturing depth map data of an object within a field of view; a processing module in communication with the depth-sensing sensor to receive the depth map data, the processing module uses the depth map data to calculate passenger data associated with the object to determine a special loading condition; and a passenger conveyance controller to receive the passenger data from the processing module, wherein the passenger conveyance controller controls a passenger conveyance dispatch control function in response to the special loading condition.

25 . The system as recited in claim 24 , wherein the passenger conveyance is an elevator.

26 . The system as recited in claim 25 , wherein the depth-sensing sensor comprises a structured light measurement, phase shift measurement, time of flight measurement, stereo triangulation device, sheet of light triangulation device, light field cameras, coded aperture cameras, computational imaging techniques, simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM), imaging radar, imaging sonar, scanning LIDAR, flash LIDAR, Passive Infrared (PIR) sensor, and small Focal Plane Array (FPA), or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing.

27 . The system as recited in claim 26 , wherein the field-of-view includes a view of a kiosk associated with the passenger conveyance.

28 . The system as recited in claim 27 , wherein the field-of-view includes a view of a passenger conveyance waiting area associated with the passenger conveyance.

29 . The system as recited in claim 28 , wherein the field-of-view includes a view of a passenger conveyance door associated with the passenger conveyance.

30 . The system as recited in claim 29 , wherein the processing module calculates at least one of the following object parameters with respect to the object, including: location, size, direction, acceleration, velocity, and object classification.

31 . The system as recited in claim 30 , wherein the processing module provides the object parameters to the passenger conveyance controller.

32 . The system as recited in claim 31 , wherein the processing module calculates the passenger data based on the object parameters, wherein the passenger data provided to the passenger conveyance controller includes at least one of the following: estimated arrival time, probability of arrival, covariance, and number of passengers waiting for a passenger conveyance.

33 . The system as recited in claim 32 , wherein the special loading condition includes a wheel chair.

34 . The system as recited in claim 33 , wherein the special loading condition includes at least one of a cart, gurney, hand truck, and dolly.

35 . The system as recited in claim 34 , wherein the special loading condition includes at least one of a cane, a walker, a prosthesis, service animal, and crutches.

36 . The system as recited in claim 35 , wherein the special loading condition includes a speed of the passenger.

37 . The system as recited in claim 36 , wherein the processing module calculates the passenger data based on the object parameters, wherein the passenger data provided to the passenger conveyance controller includes identification of an encumbrance associated with the special loading condition.

38 . The system as recited in claim 37 , wherein the passenger conveyance dispatch control function is operable to assign a passenger conveyance with sufficient free space to accommodate the special loading condition.

39 . The system as recited in claim 38 , wherein the processing module is operable to map a floor area adjacent to the passenger conveyance.

40 . The system as recited in claim 39 , wherein the processing module is operable to apply the map of the floor area adjacent to the passenger conveyance to the special loading condition to identify free space required within the passenger conveyance for the special loading condition.

41 . The system as recited in claim 40 , wherein the passenger conveyance dispatch control function is operable to inform a passenger of the control of the passenger conveyance.

42 . A method of determining a passenger conveyance special loading condition for use in passenger conveyance control, the method comprising:
detecting an object located in an area adjacent to a passenger conveyance door; calculating passenger data associated with the object; determining if the passenger data includes a special loading condition; and providing the special loading condition to a passenger conveyance controller, wherein the passenger conveyance controller causes a passenger conveyance to be dispatched that accommodates the special loading condition.

43 . The method as recited in claim 42 , further comprising causing a passenger conveyance dispatch in response to the special loading condition.

44 . The method as recited in claim 42 , further comprising causing a passenger conveyance dispatch with adequate free space in response to the special loading condition.

45 . The method as recited in claim 42 , further comprising causing a multiple of passenger conveyances to be dispatched substantially simultaneously in response to the special loading condition.

46 . The method as recited in claim 42 , further comprising delaying closing of the passenger conveyance doors in response to the special loading condition.

Assignees

• Otis Elevator Co

Inventors

• Hsu Arthur
• Fang Hui
• Finn Alan Matthew
• Jia Zhen

Classifications

• B66B1/468 Primary

  Call registering systems · CPC title

• B66B2201/4669

  using passenger condition detectors · CPC title

• B66B2201/405

  by input of special passenger or passenger group · CPC title

• B66B1/2408

  where the allocation of a call to an elevator car is of importance, i.e. by means of a supervisory or group controller · CPC title

• B66B2201/104

  Call input for a preferential elevator car or indicating a special request · CPC title