Image analysis – Applications
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-09
2002-02-05
Mancuso, Joseph (Department: 2621)
Image analysis
Applications
C318S466000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06345105
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an automatic door system of controlling the opening and closing of an automatic door by the presence or absence of a passerby. The invention further relates to a method for controlling an automatic door.
2. Description of Prior Art
FIG. 28
is a schematic diagram of the structure of a conventional automatic door system. An ultrasonic sensor
102
emits ultrasonic waves toward a floor face
103
in the vicinity of the entrance of an automatic door
101
. The ultrasonic sensor
102
has a function to detect reflected waves of the emitted ultrasonic waves and to measure a distance between an object reflecting the ultrasonic waves (hereinafter referred to as a “reflecting object”) and itself.
When no passer such as a passerby or a vehicle (hereinafter represented by a passerby) is in the vicinity of the entrance of the automatic door
101
, the ultrasonic waves emitted from the ultrasonic sensor
102
is reflected from the floor face
103
. Detecting the reflected waves, the ultrasonic sensor
102
measures a distance between the reflecting object and itself. A distance between the ultrasonic sensor
102
and the floor face
103
has previously been taught to the ultrasonic sensor
102
. When the reflecting object is the floor face
103
, the measured distance agrees with the teaching distance. Thus, the ultrasonic sensor
102
identifies the reflecting object as the floor face
103
, and judges that no passerby is in the vicinity of the entrance of the automatic door
101
. In this case, the ultrasonic sensor
102
does not perform an opening operation of the automatic door
101
.
When a passerby approaches the entrance of the automatic door
101
, on the other hand, the ultrasonic waves from the ultrasonic sensor
102
are reflected from that passerby. Detecting the reflected waves, the ultrasonic sensor
102
measures a distance between the reflecting object and itself. In this case, the measured distance disagrees with the teaching distance. Thus, the ultrasonic sensor
102
identifies the reflecting object as something other than the floor face
103
, and judges that a passerby is in the vicinity of the entrance of the automatic door
101
. The ultrasonic sensor
102
then performs the opening operation of the automatic door
101
.
In this conventional automatic door system, the distance between the ultrasonic sensor
102
and the reflecting object is measured by detecting the reflected waves from the reflecting object. The measured distance is then compared with the teaching distance to determine whether to perform the opening operation of the automatic door
101
or not. This system, however, has several shortcomings as follows:
First, when a stationary object such as a wall or a screen other than the floor face
103
is placed in the vicinity of the entrance of the automatic door
101
, the ultrasonic waves emitted from the ultrasonic sensor
102
are reflected from the stationary object. This reduces a distance between the ultrasonic sensor
102
and the reflecting object, thereby making the measured distance different from the teaching distance. Accordingly, the automatic door
101
is left open or opened and closed repeatedly.
Second, the ultrasonic sensor
102
detects the reflected waves from a passerby even when the passerby just passes by the entrance of the automatic door
101
, and performs the opening operation of the automatic door
101
.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A first aspect of the present invention is directed to an automatic door system comprising: a passable door for a movable passer; and a control portion for detecting a direction that the passer faces with respect to the door and determining whether to allow the passer to pass through the door or not on the basis of the direction.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the automatic door system of the first aspect, the passer is movable in a direction at least having either component of first and second axes which are orthogonal to each other; the passer is capable of passing through the door in a direction along the first axis; and the control portion measures a width of the passer along the second axis to detect a direction that the passer faces with respect to the door on the basis of the width.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the automatic door system of the first aspect, the passer is movable in a direction at least having either component of first and second axes which are orthogonal to each other; the passer is capable of passing through the door in a direction along the first axis; and the control portion obtains a projection of the passer with respect to a fourth axis to detect a direction that the passer faces with respect to the door on the basis of variance of the projection, the fourth axis having a component of the first axis and a component of a third axis which is orthogonal to both of the first and second axes.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the automatic door system of the first aspect, the control portion further obtains a plurality of positions of the passer at a plurality of times to detect a moving direction of the passer on the basis of the plurality of positions.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the automatic door system of the fourth aspect, the control portion further detects a moving speed of the passer on the basis of the plurality of times and the plurality of positions.
A sixth aspect of the present invention is directed to an automatic door system comprising: first and second doors located sequentially; and a control portion for detecting an opening and closing state of the first door and determining whether to allow a passer that is passing through the first door toward the second door, to pass through the second door or not on the basis of the opening and closing state of the first door.
In the automatic door system of the first aspect, as to a passer whose moving direction is predictable from a direction that he faces, the control portion predicts whether the passer is moving to the door or not by detecting the direction that the passer faces with respect to the door. Thus, the control portion opens the door only when the passer that is moving to the door is detected. In other cases, the control portion does not open the door. This suppresses unnecessary operation of the door as compared with a case where the door is opened every time a passer approaches the door.
In the automatic door system of the second aspect, the control portion measures the width of a passer along the second axis, the width being different depending on the direction that the passer faces. This allows the control portion to detect a direction that the passer faces with respect to the door.
In the automatic door system of the third aspect, the control portion obtains variance of a projection of a passer when the passer is viewed from a direction along the fourth axis, the variance of a projection obtained when the passer is viewed obliquely from above being different depending on the direction that the passer faces. This allows the control portion to detect a direction that the passer faces with respect to the door.
In the automatic door system of the fourth aspect, the control portion not only predicts the moving direction of a passer from the direction that the passer faces but also detects the actual moving direction of the passer. Thus, the control portion opens the door only when the passer that is actually moving along the first axial is detected. In other cases, the control portion does not open the door. This further suppresses unnecessary operation of the door.
In the automatic door system of the fifth aspect, the control portion detects the moving speed of a passer when the passer is actually moving along the first axis. This allows the control portion to open the door opportunely depending on the moving speed.
In the automatic door system of the sixth aspect, the operation portion opens the second door after r
Kondo Jun-ichi
Nitta Yasuhiko
Mancuso Joseph
Mitsubishi Denki & Kabushiki Kaisha
Tabatarai Abolfazl
LandOfFree
Automatic door system and method for controlling automatic door does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Automatic door system and method for controlling automatic door, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Automatic door system and method for controlling automatic door will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2979744