Image monitoring device for elevator with image recording

• US 7,837,013 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2005
• Issued: 11/23/2010
• 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:
  US10/593,711
• Publication Number:
  US 20070151808A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,092 Days
• Field of Search: 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

An image monitoring apparatus for an elevator includes an image recording section configured to record a sequence of images of an interior of a car photographed by a camera, with a delay between the recording of successive images in the sequence. The apparatus also includes a detecting section configured to detect, based on an image in the sequence of images of the interior of the car, a violent behavior of a passenger in the car, and a display unit arranged in the interior of the car and configured to display the sequence of images of the interior of the car when the violent behavior of the passenger in the car is detected. The image recording section is further configured to reduce the delay between the recording of the successive images in the sequence of images when the violent behavior of the passenger in the car is detected.

Claims

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

image recording means for recording a sequence of images of an interior of a car photographed by a camera, with a delay between the recording of successive images in the sequence of images of the interior of the car;

means for determining a moving amount of a passenger in the car based on a comparison between a newly photographed image in the sequence of images of the interior of the car and a previously photographed image in the sequence of images of the interior of the car;

means for detecting a violent behavior of the passenger in the car when the determined moving amount exceeds a reference value; and

means for displaying, arranged in the interior of the car, the sequence of images of the interior of the car when the violent behavior of the passenger in the car is detected, wherein

the image recording means reduces the delay between the recording of the successive images in the sequence of images of the interior of the car when the violent behavior of the passenger in the car is detected.

2. The image monitoring apparatus for an elevator according to claim 1, wherein the means for detecting detects the violent behavior of the passenger in the car by comparing only certain regions of each of the successive images in the sequence of images of the interior of the car.

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

an image recording section configured to record a sequence of images of an interior of a car photographed by a camera, with a delay between the recording of successive images in the sequence of images of the interior of the car;

a detecting section configured to detect, based on an image in the sequence of images of the interior of the car, a violent behavior of a passenger in the car; and

a display unit arranged in the interior of the car and configured to display the sequence of images of the interior of the car when the violent behavior of the passenger in the car is detected, wherein

the image recording section reduces the delay between the recording of the successive images in the sequence of images of the interior of the car when the violent behavior of the passenger in the car is detected.

4. The image monitoring apparatus for an elevator according to claim 3, wherein the detecting section is further configured to detect the violent behavior of the passenger in the car by comparing only certain regions of each of the successive images in the sequence of images of the interior of the car.

5. A method of monitoring an image for an elevator, the method comprising:

recording a sequence of images of an interior of a car photographed by a camera, with a delay between the recording of successive images in the sequence of images of the interior of the car;

detecting, based on an image in the sequence of images of the interior of the car, a violent behavior of a passenger in the car;

displaying, on a display arranged in the interior of the car, the sequence of images of the interior of the car when the violent behavior of the passenger in the car is detected; and

reducing the delay between the recording of the successive images in the sequence of images of the interior of the car when the violent behavior of the passenger in the car is detected.

6. The method of monitoring according to claim 5, further comprising:

detecting the violent behavior of the passenger in the car by comparing only certain regions of each of the successive images in the sequence of images of the interior of the car.