DOOR SYSTEM WITH SENSOR UNIT AND COMMUNICATION ELEMENT

Abstract

A door system for a public transit vehicle with at least one door opening and a door that closes this door opening includes a sensor unit, which does three-dimensional and touch-free scanning of a passenger compartment in the area of the door opening and at least one communication element for the context-based communication with passengers based on readings by the sensor unit. A process for monitoring and controlling door systems of a public transit vehicle are also provided including the steps of touch-free and three-dimensional scanning of a passenger compartment in the area of a door opening with a sensor unit and measuring distances, shapes, and movements of objects by evaluating the readings of the touch-free and three-dimensional scanning. The process also includes issuing context-based information to affected passengers via a communications system, whereby the information is based on readings from the sensor unit.

a process for monitoring and controlling such a door system.

Claims

1. A door system for a public transit vehicle with at least one door opening and a door that closes the door opening, wherein a sensor unit for three-dimensional and touch-free scanning of a passenger compartment in the area of the door opening, and by at least one communication element for context-based communication with passengers on the basis of readings from the sensor unit.

2. The door system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor unit measures distances based on a transmitted point cloud in which the delay of a reflection of a pulse is evaluated.

3. The door system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor unit comprises an optical sensor.

4. The door system according to claim 2, wherein the sensor unit comprises an evaluation unit.

5. The door system according to claim 2, wherein the sensor unit comprises a laser scanner unit.

6. The door system according to claim 1, wherein the passenger compartment comprises an interior space of the vehicle or an exterior space outside the vehicle.

7. The door system according to claim 1, wherein two door wings are present, and the sensor unit monitors a space between the main closing edges of the two door wings.

8. The door system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor unit is designed and oriented such that in addition, outside the vehicle a space is scanned which extends up to 5 m from the door opening.

9. The door system according to claim 1, wherein a space through which the door or the door wings move, is monitored by the sensor unit to prevent injury, whereby the opening movement of the door or the door wing is interrupted when there is an obstacle in that space.

10. The door system according to claim 1, wherein the communication element is designed as speakers in the door area.

11. The door system according to claim 1, wherein the communication element is designed as monitor in the door area.

12. The door system according to claim 1, wherein the communication element is designed as lights in the door area.

13. A process for monitoring and control of a door systems of a public transit vehicle, the process including the following steps: touch-free and three-dimensional scanning of a passenger compartment in the area of a door opening with a sensor unit, Measuring of distances, shapes and movements of objects by evaluating the readings of the touch-free and three-dimensional scanning, and Issuing context-based information to affected passengers via a communications system, whereby the information is based on readings from the sensor unit.

14. The process according to claim 13, wherein the speed in which objects move is also determined.

15. The process according to claim 13, wherein the direction in which objects move is determined.

16. The process according to claim 12, wherein boarding and de-boarding passengers are determined and counted, and information is given to passengers that is based on the rate at which the vehicle is being filled.

17. The process according to claim 12, wherein the sensor unit scans the boarding aid whereby, when obstacles such as a layer of snow or ice are determined, an appropriate information is given to the passengers.

18. The process according to claim 12, wherein the sensor unit determines whether an object or a passenger is leaning against a door or a door wing while the door or the door wing is to remain closed and whether an appropriate message should be sent to the passenger while the door or the door wing remains closed until the potential danger is removed.

19. The process according to claim 12, wherein the sensor unit determines whether an object, or particularly a passenger, is standing too closely to the door or a door wing while the door or the door wing is to be opened and whether an appropriate message should be sent to the passenger while the door or the door wing remains closed until the potential danger is removed.

20. The process according to claim 12, wherein the sensor unit determines whether passengers are moving towards a door marked as defective and whether it is necessary to send the passengers an appropriate message.

21. The process according to claim 12, wherein the sensor unit determines, whether passengers are preventing the closing of a door by standing to close to the door and whether an appropriate information is already being sent to the passengers prior to the door closing.

22. The process according to claim 12, wherein the sensor unit determines whether passengers have a bicycle with them; and that it is checked whether there is room for the bicycle in this car, and if not, the passengers are told whether there might be room in another car.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0055] The inventive door system will be described in detail with reference to the following figures. These are to be understood only as first embodiments, and the disclosure is not limited to these. The drawings are not to scale, where

[0056] FIG. 1: An inventive door system from the outside is shown as a simplified schematic view;

[0057] FIG. 2: An inventive door system from the inside is shown as a simplified schematic view;

[0058] FIG. 3: A schematic sketch shows the function of a virtual button; and

[0059] FIG. 4: A schematic sketch shows the monitoring of obstacles between two door wings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0060] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a greatly simplified schematic view of door system 20 for a public transit vehicle 42 (see FIG. 5). It comprises a door opening 44 not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, which in the embodiment shown can be closed by a door with two wings 22. Below the door, a boarding aid 24 is installed which is to help passengers to board and de-board the vehicle. For example, this boarding aid 24 can be designed as a foldout tread step or tread plate.

[0061] Both figures also show a sensor unit 26. This is placed on the outside of vehicle 42 in the middle above door wings 22. On the inside of vehicle 42, the sensor unit 26 is positioned laterally above the two door wings 22, since otherwise the carrier arms (not shown) might limit the view of sensor unit 26. In principle, the sensor unit 26 can be placed in any suitable position, depending on the type of sensor.

[0062] The sensor unit 26 generates a point cloud inside the passenger compartment to be monitored, via which the passenger compartment is scanned. For this, the sensor unit 26 can for example comprise an optical sensor, preferably a laser, in particular an infrared laser.

[0063] Furthermore, the sensor unit 26 comprises an evaluation unit (not shown) to evaluate the readings. This unit can be integrated in the sensor unit or placed externally.

[0064] Furthermore, FIGS. 1 and 2 symbolically show different varieties of communication means, namely a speaker 50, a monitor 52 and a light 54, all placed in the area of the door opening 44.

[0065] FIG. 3 shows the use of the inventive door systems 20 to create a virtual button 36. A virtual button 36 simulates a real button that would be wired. To tell passengers where this virtual button 36 is placed, an adhesive sticker or a painted symbol may indicate the location in the door area.

[0066] When such a virtual button 36 is calibrated or placed, an object is held against the point cloud in the desired position of the virtual button 36. If it is held still long enough, its position can be used as midpoint 38 for the virtual button 36. In addition, a radius 40 is determined and entered in the associated evaluation software. If for example a hand of a passenger approaches the virtual button 36 through the point cloud within the defined radius 40, this movement is interpreted as the passenger's intention to push it. However, alternatively to the passenger's hand, any object in this area is accordingly recognized and taken into account.

[0067] FIG. 4 shows another example of using the inventive door system 20. Shown is an implied vehicle 42 with a door opening 44. In front of it are two door wings 22 in slightly opened position. A first point cloud area P1 monitors a space between the two door wings 22 and is limited to these, ignoring the other surroundings. A second point cloud area P2 scans the space immediately in front of the door wings 22 and is somewhat wider, thus overlapping the expanse of the door wings 22. If there is an obstacle in the monitored or scanned spaces, it is securely recognized, and the closing or movement of the door can be interrupted; or the door may be automatically reversed. The point cloud area P1 thus monitors a space between the main closing edges 46 of the two door wings 22. For a single door, the same principle can be used; in that case, the space between the main closing edge 46 of the only door and the door frame is monitored.

[0068] The disclosure is not limited to the described and depicted embodiments; instead, other applications of the inventive door system 20 are possible. For example, instead of a laser scanner, optical imaging can be used for monitoring, in which case an appropriate evaluation software evaluates movement, shape and speed.

[0069] For example, the use of a video camera is possible with a respective evaluation program. Communication with passengers is possible not only via a speaker system, but also via monitors or other optical signals such as warning lights. Of course, instead of door openings 44, passages or windows can also be monitored by means of the described process. The disclosure is also suitable in conjunction with other sensor elements such as ultrasound sensors. Furthermore, the sensor unit 26 can be designed and oriented such that not only the passenger compartment is monitored in the area of the door opening, but also for example a clearly larger area can be included for monitoring on the outside of the vehicle 42. This facilitates the early recognition of crowds and their direction, and to react to them by opening or closing doors. The passenger compartment can be monitored only on the outside, only on the inside, and preferable on both sides of the door.

[0070] It can also be provided according to the disclosure that the sensor unit 26 or the assigned evaluation unit is in connection with an external display. For example, this can be placed with the driver or at a control centre, preferable at a station or near a stop where the results generated by the sensor unit 26 can be evaluated and further processed.