ES3023662T3 - Method for displaying information for passengers in the floor region of a vehicle for transporting people - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for displaying information to passengers in the floor area, preferably in the entrance area, of a vehicle (1), said information being displayed by means of an image display device (4) arranged on the floor of the entrance area of the vehicle (1); and to a vehicle (1) comprising an image display device (4) arranged on the floor of said vehicle. (Automatic translation with Google Translate, no legal value)

Description

DESCRIPTION

Procedure for displaying passenger information in the floor area of a vehicle for the transport of people

The present invention relates to a method for displaying passenger information in a vehicle, as well as to a vehicle that is specially configured for such a method.

Until now, passenger information on public transport has been provided largely through audible information, particularly pre-programmed announcements, for example, about the next station and transfer options.

Alternatively, passenger information is often presented on overhead displays, particularly with written tapes or monitors.

In current solutions, passenger information is not always displayed where it is necessary and important.

EP 2572956 A1 discloses an in-vehicle information system that notifies passengers in a vehicle of guidance information, comprising a display input unit with a display unit that displays the guidance information, and an input unit that covers the display unit and detects touch operations of the passengers, which are output as input information, and an information control unit that changes and outputs the guidance information on the display unit in correspondence with operating states of the vehicle, and classifies the guidance information into first information that is provided to the passengers according to the input information and second information that is provided to the passengers according to operating states of the vehicle to output the first information to the display unit according to the inputted operation information. The display unit is arranged in door regions of the vehicle.

Jonathan Fincher describes in an article titled "Philips developing LED-embedded carpets to replace public signs" dated December 3, 2013 (https://newatlas.com/philipsled-teppich/29865/) a carpet with embedded LEDs that can be controlled to display different information.

Document EP 2319 743 A1 discloses a service system for outputting information, applicable to a passenger train, that displays an image for issuing information to passengers. The system comprises: an internal train information display device that groups several windows of the passenger train into a group and uses the windows gathered in a group as a display surface, as well as a display information processor that outputs the image information to the internal train information display device.

Document EP 2281 730 A1 provides a train information service system and a passenger train information display device with which both a landscape view effect and an information effect can be achieved, and landscape-related information can be displayed at an appropriate time. A portion of the display surface of a train window pane or a peripheral surface of the window pane is used as the display device.

One object of the invention is to present passenger information in a locally specific manner. This will also allow for better control of passenger flow, especially during boarding and disembarking.

The object is achieved by a method according to claim 1 and a railway vehicle according to claim 5. Preferred and advantageous embodiments are specified in the dependent claims.

A method is provided for displaying passenger information on the floor of a vehicle, which displays the information with an image display device that is arranged on the floor of the vehicle.

A vehicle is a vehicle for the transportation of people, specifically a public transport vehicle or means of public transport. In other words, a vehicle is a vehicle for the public transportation of people. A preferred vehicle is a bus or a rail vehicle, the specific types of which will be discussed later. Preferably, the information is information for controlling passenger flow.

In this regard, the procedure can also be referred to as a procedure for controlling passenger flow or passenger movement. Passenger flow control occurs particularly when passengers board and disembark at a stop.

The image display device is preferably arranged on the floor of a vehicle's boarding area. The boarding area floor is particularly suitable for displaying information, particularly for passenger flow control, since it is sought after during boarding and disembarking and constitutes a passenger gathering point. Experience shows that passengers prefer to remain in the boarding area during the journey, provided they have not taken a seat.

The information can be displayed, in particular, in the form of symbols, images, pictograms, graphics, text, or any combination of two or more of these. The information can be displayed statically or in motion. The method, in the general or specific embodiments explained below, can achieve, in particular, one or more of the following advantages:

- a structured flow of passengers is achieved,

- the use of less frequented boardings is easily visualized,

- shorter waiting times for boarding and disembarking thanks to optical displays, which translates into shorter waiting times on the station platform,

- passenger guidance system on the platform immediately upon disembarking from the vehicle,

- transfer information (e.g. address) - whenever necessary - upon disembarkation, - warning and illumination of the entry gap using the display device,

- attention is directed to where the passenger places his foot,

- possible advertising space that offers additional income for the operator,

- design possibilities by floor configuration with color and shape that can vary,

- the display system used is suitable for a plurality of vehicle systems,

- a slight adjustment of the displayed contents is possible,

- compared to previous information systems, the present invention provides information where it is particularly clearly visible to passengers embarking or disembarking, namely in the boarding area, which is a disembarkation area for disembarking passengers,

- The present invention provides, in particular, a possibility of rapid passenger change, which leads to shorter stopping times of the vehicle at stops.

A vehicle's boarding area is located on the inside of the vehicle. A loading area is located behind a vehicle door. Depending on the perspective, the boarding area may also be called the disembarkation area or the boarding and disembarkation area.

An arrangement of the image display device on the floor means in particular that a portion of the floor area is occupied by the image display device. In the case of an arrangement on the floor of a boarding area, in particular a predominant portion of this floor area is occupied by the image display device. The statement that at least a portion of the floor area of the boarding area is occupied by the image display device includes the case in which the entire floor area of the boarding area is occupied by the image display device, which is possible, for example, by a corresponding configuration of the boarding area, for example in the case of a rectangular boarding area.

The image display device is designed to display variable information, particularly images and/or characters. The image display device is an electrically controlled image display device. The display device is also referred to as a screen or electronic image display device or electronic screen. The image display device or screen may have the following components: an image display matrix, as well as electronic supply and/or control components, such as, for example, a controller configured for signal processing, an inverter that controls background brightness, and a power supply that supplies voltage to all other components. Furthermore, the image display device may have a housing.

In general, the invention includes the provision of a plurality of image display devices that are arranged on the floor of different areas of the vehicle, the image display devices preferably being provided in boarding areas.

Passenger information is selected from boarding information, disembarkation information, transfer information, route information, disturbance information, vehicle passenger occupancy information, warning information, emergency information, lighting information, and/or advertising information.

The aforementioned information can be presented simultaneously or in sequence. For example, boarding information or transfer information can only be displayed when the vehicle is stationary, i.e., when it is at a stop and passengers are boarding and disembarking. Information about a disruption or emergency information will, of course, only be displayed if a corresponding disruption or emergency occurs. Advertising information is preferably displayed when the display device is not currently required to display other information.

The different types of information are discussed in more detail below.

The embarkation, disembarkation, or transshipment information can take various forms and formats, as explained below in specific embodiments. The embodiments can be combined as desired.

In one embodiment, the boarding, disembarking, or transferring information includes a direction indicator to guide passengers boarding, disembarking, or transferring. A direction indicator can be configured, for example, in the form of one or more arrows or lines that show passengers the direction in which they should proceed to board, disembark, or change trains. In the case of boarding or transferring information, the direction indicator points to the vehicle in question, in particular to one or more vehicle doors. In the aforementioned line variant, a broken line, for example, a dashed or dotted line, is also considered a line. A line can serve as a direction indicator because, for example, during a transfer when a passenger arriving from one vehicle boards another vehicle, the direction of movement along the line is clear.

In one embodiment, the boarding, disembarking, or transferring information displays a moving information screen to guide passengers boarding, disembarking, or transferring. In particular, moving symbols, images, pictograms, graphics, text, or any combination of two or more of these may be displayed.

In one embodiment, the boarding, disembarking, or transfer information displays a line number of the vehicle in question and/or a destination of the trip.

In another embodiment, the boarding, disembarking, or transfer information presents information about the arrival time or departure time of the vehicle in question.

In one embodiment, the embarkation, disembarkation, or transshipment information comprises information about the expected future location of the vehicle.

A so-called negative display is also possible, indicating that boarding or transferring is not possible, for example because the vehicle in question is out of service.

The method preferably involves displaying time-limited embarkation, disembarkation, or transfer information. In one embodiment, a display is displayed providing information about when or until when the embarkation, disembarkation, or transfer information is valid. For example, information may be provided about a time period during which the information is still valid or from which the information is valid. In particular, information about the arrival, stop, or departure of the vehicle may be displayed, for example in the form of a time period until departure.

A duration indicator can take various forms. In one variant, a period of time is displayed numerically using a common unit of measurement, preferably seconds or minutes. Such a time indication can also be displayed on or next to embarkation, disembarkation, or transshipment information, for example, in the form of a direction indicator. In another variant, a period of time can be represented in the form of a decreasing object, e.g., in the form of a line or bar that decreases in length segment by segment, or in the form of a circle that disappears segment by segment.

In one variant, the intensity of the display of boarding, disembarking, or transfer information is modified or varied, for example by varying the intensity of a display (flashing information). A change in intensity in the form of flashing can be used to signal the imminent invalidity of the information. Instead or in addition, passengers' attention can be increased by a variation in intensity. For example, a slow change in intensity, or a slow flashing or increase and decrease, can draw attention to the information, while a rapid change in intensity in the form of rapid flashing can signal the imminent invalidity of the information. The frequency of variation can be gradually increased as the time approaches when the information is no longer valid.

In another variant, the color of the screen varies, for example, from green to red, with red indicating cancellation or imminent cancellation of validity.

For information on vehicle occupancy with passengers:

Occupancy is hereinafter also referred to as "assignment." An advantage of this embodiment is that boarding or transferring passengers can be shown which boarding and disembarking points they should prefer or avoid. Occupancy preferably relates to a module or a car of a railway vehicle or to a part thereof that has boarding/disembarking. Therefore, the occupancy information can relate to a partial area of a railway vehicle. Occupancy information can relate in addition to or instead of a selected passenger seating area. Of interest to special passengers is, for example, the occupancy of special-use surfaces/multifunctional surfaces, such as for wheelchair users, baby strollers, or cyclists. This means that different occupancy states can be displayed for an entire railway vehicle complex, for example, a complete tram, if the occupancy varies from car to car or from module to module. Occupancy may be detected by one or more detection devices, for example, cameras or sensors that may be provided in the seats. Occupancy information may be transmitted from the detection device to a control device described below, which controls the display of the railway vehicle's occupancy on the image display device based on occupancy.

In a special variant, vehicle occupancy information is modified based on vehicle occupancy. To achieve this, the recording devices can repeatedly record occupancy information or, in other words, update this information. The updated information can be transmitted to the control device, which in turn controls the display of vehicle occupancy on the image display device based on the current occupancy. In this variant, a change in occupancy can be shown to passersby and passengers during a stop.

Occupancy or allocation can be displayed, for example, in the form of information about whether boarding is recommended or permitted, or whether boarding is not recommended or even prohibited, for example in the case of overcrowding. In one variant, information can be displayed in the form of occupancy or allocation, for example, showing the relative utilization rate of the vehicle, specifically of a car or a module.

Occupancy information may be represented as a symbol, image, pictogram, text, and/or color information, or any combination thereof. If vehicle occupancy is to be modified based on vehicle occupancy, the symbol, image, pictogram, text, and/or color information, or a combination thereof, may be modified.

When it comes to displaying the occupancy level, or especially when recommending boarding and disembarking, traffic light colors—red, yellow, green—are advantageous, as are other warning colors, such as orange, to indicate the level of occupancy of the train in the passenger area behind the doors and in the adjacent areas.

Disturbance information may be selected from among information about a door disturbance, information about another type of vehicle disturbance, information about a schedule delay, information about a disturbance in the stop or station area, or information about a disturbance on a connecting vehicle, i.e. a vehicle that can be switched to.

Warning information is selected, for example, from warning information about a platform gap, i.e., a gap between the vehicle and the platform, or warning information indicating the closing or opening of a door in the boarding area.

Emergency information is selected from among information about an emergency stop, for example in the event of a fire or accident, information about an accident, information about a fire, information about the arrival of rescue services, or information about how to behave in the event of an emergency or a vehicle system failure.

Light information, also known as illumination information, is generated in particular by the display of a brilliant image on the image display device. For example, a brilliant surface or a brilliant pattern may be displayed. Light information may be used to illuminate the boarding area, particularly if the image display device is arranged in the boarding area. By illuminating the boarding area or the floor of the boarding area, the boarding area can be separated from an adjacent gap between the platform and the vehicle, particularly if the light information is a flat illumination of the boarding area, in particular a flat illumination across the entire image display device. If the image display device is arranged near the boarding edge in the vehicle or up to the boarding edge, then the boarding edge and thus the platform gap can be made visible. The light information may indicate the position of the boarding area in the vehicle.

For example, the light information can be displayed or activated only when the vehicle is stopped. Indicating the position of the boarding or disembarking area, depending on the perspective, is advantageous during passenger boarding and disembarking and in emergency situations.

In one variant of the method, the image display device is controlled in an emergency by a control device described below, such that warning information, emergency information, light information, or a combination thereof is displayed. In an emergency, information can be transmitted to the control device, for example, from the driver's cab or from an emergency call center. The control device controls the image display device so that the relevant information is displayed.

In another aspect, the invention relates to a vehicle having an image display device that is arranged on the floor of the railway vehicle, in particular on the floor of a boarding area.

A vehicle is a vehicle for the transportation of people, specifically a public transport vehicle or a means of public transport. In other words, a vehicle is a vehicle for the public transportation of people. A preferred vehicle is a bus or a rail vehicle. An example of a rail vehicle is a tram, a light rail, a commuter train, or a long-distance train.

The vehicle may be configured to perform the procedure described above. The vehicle may have the specific features described above in relation to the procedure, either individually or in any combination.

The image display device is preferably flush with the floor or floor covering adjacent to the vehicle.

In one embodiment of the vehicle, the image display device is disposed beneath a transparent, tamper-resistant cover.

The cover is preferably made of plastic or glass. It should preferably be impact, scratch, and slip resistant, capable of handling typical loads, such as falling objects, even sharp ones, and the stresses inside the vehicle. The cover should preferably be flush with the surrounding ground.

The cover is preferably easily interchangeable and/or replaceable and is preferably designed such that the image display device is easily interchangeable and/or replaceable.

The cover ensures that the image display device is clearly visible and protected against the ingress of water or other external influences, particularly dirt.

In one embodiment, in the vehicle, which is specifically a rail vehicle, the image display device is connected to a vehicle information system. The connection can be made wirelessly or non-wirelessly, for example via a transmission line. The vehicle information system can transmit the passenger information explained above to the image display device.

In one embodiment, the vehicle, in particular a rail vehicle, has a control device configured to control the display of passenger information on the image display device. In particular, information about a vehicle stop, information about transfer options, e.g., information about other lines and departure times, information about a disruption, information about occupancy, and/or information about an emergency can be transmitted to the control device. The control device can then control the image display device so that the relevant information in question is displayed on the image display device.

The invention is described below with the help of exemplary embodiments. They show:

Fig. 1, a fragment of a railway vehicle according to the invention with an image display device in the boarding area, where boarding and disembarking information is displayed,

Fig. 2, the same view as in Fig. 1, where information about a disturbance or alternatively information about the occupancy of the railway vehicle is shown,

Fig. 3, the view of Fig. 1, where transshipment information is shown,

Fig. 4, the view of Fig. 1, where warning information is shown, and

Fig. 5, the view of Fig. 1, where an advertisement is shown.

Fig. 1 shows a fragment of a rail vehicle, in this case a tram, in the boarding area. The observer's gaze falls through a fragment of the door into the interior of the vehicle. The side wall 2 is only partially exposed to allow a clear view of the interior. The boarding area is formed behind the door fragment 3 in the interior of the vehicle 1. The image display device 4 is arranged on the floor of the boarding area. The image display device 4 occupies essentially the entire floor area of the boarding area. The image display device 4 extends almost to the boarding edge 5.

In this example, the image display device 4 is embodied as an LCD screen. Boarding information 6 is displayed on the LCD screen in the form of a directional arrow pointing toward the interior of the railway vehicle 1, and disembarking information 7 is displayed in the form of a directional arrow pointing from the interior toward the exterior, intended for disembarking passengers. In this example, the boarding information 6 and the disembarking information 7 have an arrow-shaped direction indicator to guide boarding or transferring passengers.

The image display device 4 is connected to the vehicle information system 8 via the data line 9, which is schematically shown in Fig. 1. The units of the vehicle information system 8 are arranged, for example, in the area of the driver's cab.

Via the data line 10, the image display device 4 is also connected to the control device 11, which is likewise represented schematically. The control device 11 can control several image displays 4, i.e., also image displays in other boarding areas. In this way, a railway vehicle can have a central control device 11 for controlling all existing image displays.

Figs. 2 to 5 show the same view as Fig. 1 and the same reference numbers in these figures designate the same features as in Fig. 1. The information represented in each case is of a different type and is briefly explained below.

In Fig. 2, the disturbance information 12 is displayed on the image display device 4 in the form of a graphic. The graphic shows that passage is not possible, for example, due to a defect in a door that is included in the door fragment 3, but not shown in Fig. 2. Alternatively, the symbol can be information about passenger occupancy 16 and indicate that the railway vehicle, or at least a relevant part thereof, is fully occupied; that is, there are no more seats or standing places available and, therefore, the entry of boarding passengers is undesirable or prohibited.

A transfer information 13 is shown in Fig. 3. The line number 13a of a line to which passengers can change ("line 38"), a departure time 13b of the line in question ("in 4 min."), as well as a direction arrow 13c guiding disembarking passengers to the right to reach the other line or the stop position of the other line are shown.

Fig. 4 shows a warning message 14. Both boarding and disembarking passengers are shown a text warning message, specifically warning them of a gap between the vehicle and the platform edge. This warning message can also be represented graphically.

In Fig. 5, advertising information 15 is represented, both in text and graphic form.

Light information can be provided, for example, if a bright background with sufficient illumination intensity is displayed on surface 4.

Claims (7)

1. Procedure for illuminating the boarding area of a railway vehicle to make visible a gap between the platform and the railway vehicle, and for displaying warning information for passengers on the floor of a railway vehicle (1), which presents displaying the warning information with an image display device (4) which is arranged on the floor of the railway vehicle (1), characterized by the image display device (4) is arranged on the floor of a rectangular boarding area of the railway vehicle (1) and the image display device (4) occupies the entire floor area of the boarding area, and the image display device (4) is arranged below a transparent cover made of plastic or glass resistant to footsteps, and the image display device (4) is a display having an image display matrix, electronic supply and/or control components, an inverter for brightness control and a power supply, and the procedure also presents: a flat illumination of the boarding area with the image display device (4), the flat illumination being arranged up to a boarding edge of the railway vehicle, so that the boarding edge and the gap between the platform and the railway vehicle are visible, display warning information regarding the gap between the platform and the railway vehicle on the image display device (4), while the flat illumination of the image display device (4) makes the gap between the platform and the railway vehicle visible. 2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the information also presents information for controlling the flow of passengers. 3. Method according to claim 1, wherein the information further comprises boarding information (6), disembarkation information (7), transfer information (13), line route information, disturbance information (12), occupancy information (16) of the railway vehicle with passengers, emergency information and/or advertising information (15). 4. Method according to claim 3, wherein the shipping information (6) or The disembarkation information (13) presents a directional display (13c) to guide passengers boarding or disembarking. 5. Railway vehicle (1), which has an image display device (4) which is arranged on the floor of the railway vehicle, characterized by the image display device (4) is arranged on the floor of a rectangular boarding area of the railway vehicle (1), and the image display device (4) occupies the entire floor area of the boarding area, and the image display device (4) is arranged below a transparent cover made of plastic or glass resistant to footsteps, and the image display device (4) is a display having an image display matrix, electronic supply and/or control components, an inverter for brightness control, as well as a power supply, and The image display device (4) enables flat illumination of the boarding area which is arranged up to a boarding edge of the railway vehicle, so that the boarding edge and a gap in the platform can be made visible. 6. Railway vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the image display device (4) is connected to a vehicle information system (8). 7. Railway vehicle according to one of claims 5-6, having a control device (11) configured to control the display of passenger information on the image display device.