Image monitoring apparatus for detecting violent behavior in an elevator

• US 7,832,527 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2009
• Issued: 11/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Inventors: Amano, Masaaki
• Primary Examiner(s): SALATA, ANTHONY J
• Application Number:
  US12/468,890
• Publication Number:
  US 20090229925A1
• Time in Patent Office: 545 Days
• Field of Search: 187/247, 187380-388, 187391-393, 340/541, 340/561, 340/565, 340/825.36, 345/619, 345/625, 348152-156, 348/159, 348/161, 382/107, 382/118, 382/122, 382/123, 706/20, 706/22, 706/910, 706/933
• US Class Current: 187/392
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 5/0012 Devices monitoring the users of the elevator system
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 706/91 Elevator

Abstract

In an image monitoring apparatus for an elevator, image recording means records an image in a car photographed by a camera, and monitors based on the image in the car whether or not there is a violent behavior of a passenger in the car. The image recording means makes a recording density of the image in the car higher than usual when the violent behavior of the passenger in the car is detected. The operation control means homes the car on a predetermined floor when the violent behavior of the passenger in the car is detected by the image recording means.

Claims

1. An image monitoring apparatus for an elevator, comprising:

operation control means for controlling operation of a car;

image recording means for recording a sequence of images of an interior of the car photographed by a camera; and

means for detecting, based on the sequence of images, whether or not there is a violent behavior of a passenger in the car, wherein the means for detecting detects the violent behavior of the passenger in the car by comparing only certain regions of each of successive images in the sequence of images of the interior of the car,

wherein the operation control means causes a display unit to display an image in the car when the violent behavior of the passenger in the car is detected by the image recording means.

5. The image monitoring apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for detecting detects the violent behavior of the passenger in the car by comparing only upper regions of each of the successive images in the sequence of images.

2. An image monitoring apparatus for an elevator, comprising:

operation control means for controlling operation of a car;

image recording means for recording a sequence of images of an interior of the car photographed by a camera; and

means for detecting, based on the sequence of images, whether or not there is a violent behavior of a passenger in the car, wherein the means for detecting detects the violent behavior of the passenger in the car by comparing only certain regions of each of successive images in the sequence of images of the interior of the car,

wherein the operation control means announces detection of the violent behavior of the passenger in the car to the interior of the car when the violent behavior is detected by the image recording means.

3. An image monitoring apparatus for an elevator, comprising:

controlling operation of a car;

recording a sequence of images of an interior of the car photographed by a camera;

detecting, based on the sequence of images, whether or not there is a violent behavior of a passenger in the car by comparing only certain regions of each of successive images in the sequence of images of the interior of the car; and

causing a display unit to display an image in the car when the violent behavior of the passenger in the car is detected.

4. An image monitoring apparatus for an elevator, comprising:

controlling operation of a car; and

recording a sequence of images of an interior of the car photographed by a camera;

detecting, based on the sequence of images, whether or not there is a violent behavior of a passenger in the car by comparing only certain regions of each of successive images in the sequence of images of the interior of the car; and

announcing detection of the violent behavior of the passenger in the car to the interior of the car when the violent behavior is detected.