Intelligent closestool based on strain gauge type sensor and urine volume detection system

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of medical health monitoring, and discloses a urine volume detection system based on a strain gauge type sensor, which comprises a urine collection container, a strain gauge type sensor, an electromagnetic valve, a main controller and an infrared human body sensor, the upper port of the urine collecting container is used for receiving urine, and the lower port of the urine collecting container is connected with the strain gauge type sensor; the strain gauge type sensor is used for detecting the weight change of the urine collection container, the urine volume detection system based on the strain gauge type sensor and the intelligent closestool overcome the defect that a traditional closestool cannot measure and record the urine volume, convenience is brought to patients who do not want to use a urinal or a pedestal pan and old people with poor eyesight, and the intelligent closestool is convenient to use. A user can know the urine volume when using the closestool or pouring urine into the urinal into the closestool, use is convenient and sanitary, accurate urine volume data helps a doctor to formulate a more accurate medication scheme for a patient, and the patient is prevented from seeing a doctor repeatedly and the health risk caused by medicine problems.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of medical and health monitoring technology, specifically to an intelligent toilet and urine volume detection system based on strain gauge sensors. Background Technology

[0002] Heart failure (CHF) has a high prevalence, mortality, and readmission rate, making it a major global public health problem. The "China Cardiovascular Health and Disease Report 2022" indicates that there are approximately 8.9 million CHF patients in my country, posing a significant challenge to disease management. Accurate recording and analysis of fluid intake and output are crucial for the management of CHF patients, serving as a key basis for healthcare professionals to develop treatment and care plans. Urine monitoring is the most convenient and important way to assess fluid intake and output.

[0003] Currently, fluid intake and output for CHF patients in my country are mainly estimated manually, which has a large margin of error. The commonly used male urinals and female bedpans have many drawbacks, such as limited use, unhygienic conditions, cumbersome operation, and inaccurate measurement. Many elderly people cannot see the markings on the urinal due to vision problems, and many mobile patients are accustomed to using toilets, but these do not have urine volume measurement functions, resulting in a large deviation between urine volume estimation and actual urine volume. This seriously affects doctors' judgment of the condition and medication treatment. Therefore, we propose an intelligent toilet and urine volume detection system based on strain gauge sensors to solve the above-mentioned problems. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, this invention provides an intelligent toilet and urine volume detection system based on strain gauge sensors. This system solves the problems of large errors in manual urine volume estimation, limited equipment use, unhygienic conditions, cumbersome operation, and inaccurate measurement. In particular, it addresses the issue of large errors in urine volume estimation caused by vision problems in the elderly, and the lack of urine volume measurement function in toilets. These problems seriously affect doctors' judgment of patients' conditions and medication treatment.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention is implemented through the following technical solution: a urine volume detection system based on a strain gauge sensor, comprising a urine collection container, a strain gauge sensor, a solenoid valve, a main controller, and an infrared human body sensor;

[0006] The upper port of the urine collection container is used to receive urine, and the lower port is connected to the strain gauge sensor; the strain gauge sensor is used to detect the weight change of the urine collection container; the main controller 7 is connected to the strain gauge sensor, the solenoid valve and the infrared human body sensor respectively, and is used to receive weight signals and calculate urine volume, and control the operation of related modules; the solenoid valve is installed on the urine collection container to discharge urine; the infrared human body sensor is used to detect whether the user is approaching.

[0007] Preferably, the strain gauge sensor has four strain gauges symmetrically supported and connected between the bottom of the urine collection container and the sewage pipe. It uses an IP67 stainless steel housing and is filled with sealing silicone for moisture protection. The strain gauge sensor has a Wheatstone bridge circuit, which is composed of four 350Ω metal foil strain gauges forming a full bridge with a temperature coefficient of <0.1% / ℃.

[0008] Preferably, the main controller includes a high-precision ADC module, a microcontroller, a speech synthesis module, a Bluetooth module, and a power management unit; the high-precision ADC module is used to convert analog signals into digital signals; the microcontroller is used to process data and calculate urine volume; the speech synthesis module is used to announce urine volume; and the Bluetooth module is used to connect to external devices to transmit data.

[0009] Preferably, the high-precision ADC module has a 24-bit resolution, a sampling rate of 100Hz, and an input range of ±20mV; the microcontroller has an ARM Cortex-M4 core and a main frequency of 120MHz.

[0010] Preferably, the urine collection container has an inverted trapezoidal structure and a non-slip silicone base at the bottom. It is made of medical-grade polypropylene (PP) with a wall thickness of 2mm, and the surface of the urine collection container is treated with a hydrophobic coating.

[0011] Preferably, the solenoid valve is a DC12V normally closed anti-crystallization solenoid valve, and it is used in conjunction with a solenoid valve button to control the opening and closing of the solenoid valve.

[0012] Preferably, the infrared human body sensor is located at the center of the back of the toilet seat, with a detection angle of 120° and a detection distance of 0.3-1m. It enters a sleep state after 10 minutes of continuous inactivity.

[0013] Preferably, the volume of the voice synthesis module is adjustable, and it is triggered and the urine volume is broadcast after urination is completed and the urine volume is calculated.

[0014] Preferably, the Bluetooth module has a transmission distance of 10m and is used to transmit urine volume data to the user's mobile phone in real time, record historical data, and automatically generate a urine volume trend chart.

[0015] This invention provides a smart toilet, including a urine volume detection system based on a strain gauge sensor, a toilet body, a seat, a handrail, and a solenoid valve button. The toilet body includes an open toilet cavity, and a urine collection container is embedded in the toilet body. The handrail is located on the side of the toilet body, and the main controller, the solenoid valve button, and the lithium battery pack are located inside the handrail. The solenoid valve button is located on the handrail, and the seat is mounted on the toilet body.

[0016] Beneficial effects

[0017] This invention provides an intelligent toilet and urine volume detection system based on a strain gauge sensor. Compared with existing technologies, it has the following advantages:

[0018] This smart toilet and urine volume detection system based on strain gauge sensors overcomes the limitations of traditional toilets in measuring and recording urine volume. It is convenient for patients who do not wish to use urinals or toilet seats, as well as for elderly people with poor eyesight. Users can know the amount of urine when using the toilet or emptying urine into a urinal, making it convenient and hygienic. Accurate urine volume data helps doctors develop more precise medication plans for patients, reducing repeated medical visits and health risks caused by medication issues. The voice broadcast module can announce the amount of urine each time, meeting the needs of visually impaired or elderly users for immediate information. The Bluetooth module connects to the user's mobile phone, displaying urine volume in real time, recording historical data, and automatically generating urine volume trend charts, allowing users to easily monitor changes in their urine volume. This provides strong support for chronic disease management, improves the effectiveness of the device, and meets practical usage needs. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 This is a system diagram related to the Wheatstone bridge circuit of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 2 This is a system diagram related to the user process of this invention;

[0021] Figure 3 This is a system diagram related to the Bluetooth connectivity function of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional view of the intelligent toilet structure of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 5 This is a top view of the intelligent toilet structure of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram showing the connection between the strain gauge sensor and the Wheatstone bridge circuit of the present invention.

[0025] In the diagram: 1. Toilet body; 2. Seat cushion; 3. Toilet cavity; 4. Urine collection container; 5. Strain gauge sensor; 6. Solenoid valve; 7. Main controller; 8. Handrail; 9. Infrared human body sensor; 10. Solenoid valve button. Detailed Implementation

[0026] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0027] like Figure 1-6 As shown:

[0028] A smart toilet and urine volume detection system based on strain gauge sensors includes a urine collection container 4, a strain gauge sensor 5, a solenoid valve 6, a main controller 7, and an infrared human body sensor 9. It also includes a toilet body 1, a seat ring 2, a handrail post 8, and a solenoid valve button 10. The toilet body 1 includes an open toilet cavity 3. The urine collection container 4 is embedded in the toilet body 1. The handrail post 8 is fixedly installed on the side of the toilet body 1 to provide a stable support point during actions such as getting up, sitting down, and turning around, reducing the risk of falling. The main controller 7, the solenoid valve button 10, and the lithium battery pack are located in the handrail post 8. The solenoid valve button 10 is located on the handrail post 8. The seat ring 2 is installed on the toilet body 1.

[0029] The upper port of the urine collection container 4 is used to receive urine, and the lower port is connected to the strain gauge sensor 5. The urine collection container 4 has an inverted trapezoidal structure design, with a top size of 28cm*22cm, a bottom size of 18cm*14cm, a depth of 12cm, a side wall inclination angle of 70°, a capacity of 2000ml, and a non-slip silicone base at the bottom. The material is medical-grade polypropylene PP with a wall thickness of 2mm. The surface of the urine collection container 4 is treated with a hydrophobic coating.

[0030] Alternatively, the urine collection container 4 can also be designed as a hollow frustum-shaped structure that is larger at the top and smaller at the bottom.

[0031] The strain gauge sensor 5 is used to detect the weight change of the urine collection container 4. The strain gauge sensor 5 has four strain gauges, symmetrically supported, connected between the bottom of the urine collection container 4 and the drain pipe. It uses an IP67 stainless steel housing, filled with sealing silicone for moisture protection. The strain gauge sensor 5 has a Wheatstone bridge circuit, consisting of four 350Ω metal foil strain gauges forming a full bridge with a temperature coefficient <0.1% / ℃. The Wheatstone bridge circuit converts the resistance change into a voltage signal. When the user urinates, urine flows into the urine collection container 4, increasing its weight and causing the strain gauges to deform. The Wheatstone bridge circuit converts this minute resistance change into a voltage signal. The voltage-weight conversion formula is:

[0032] ΔW=(Δvk) / (SE)

[0033] Where ΔW is the weight change, K is the bridge sensitivity coefficient, S is the strain gauge sensitivity, and E is the excitation voltage;

[0034] This formula is derived based on the resistance-strain characteristics of the strain gauge (ΔR / R=S·ε) and the voltage output law of the Wheatstone bridge (ΔV∝ΔR / R). It directly relates weight change to electrical signal, conforms to the basic working principle of strain gauge sensors, and is suitable for scenarios where urine volume is indirectly measured by weight.

[0035] Convert weight to volume using urine density (1.02 g / ml): V(ml) = ΔW / 1.02

[0036] Urine density is stable at 1.01-1.03 g / ml under physiological conditions. Taking 1.02 g / ml as the average value has statistical basis, which can effectively convert weight changes into volume (urine volume) and meet the clinical requirements for the accuracy of urine volume measurement (error allowable range ±5%).

[0037] The main controller 7 is connected to the strain gauge sensor 5, the solenoid valve 6 and the infrared human body sensor 9 respectively, and is used to receive weight signals, calculate urine volume and control the operation of related modules.

[0038] The main controller 7 includes a high-precision ADC module, a microcontroller, a speech synthesis module, a Bluetooth module, and a power management unit. The high-precision ADC module converts analog signals to digital signals. It uses an ADS1232 chip, adapted to the ±20mV weak voltage signal output by the strain gauge sensor 5, with a fixed sampling rate of 100Hz. The high-precision ADC module has 24-bit resolution to ensure real-time capture of weight changes in the urine collection container. It has a built-in low-noise instrumentation amplifier, the gain of which can be programmed through the main controller 7 to amplify the signal to a processable range. The microcontroller processes data and calculates urine volume. It uses an STM32F407VGT6 (ARM Cortex-M4 core), with 192KB RAM and 1MB Flash, capable of storing at least 30 days of historical urine volume data. It supports low-power mode (sleep current ≤50μA), triggered by the infrared human body sensor 9 to reduce standby power consumption. The speech synthesis module announces the urine volume. The main unit uses the SYN6288 Chinese speech synthesis chip, supporting TTS and text-to-speech functions. The speech library includes numbers and unit pronunciations, such as "milliliters," and can be used to announce "This urine volume is XXX milliliters." The Bluetooth module is used to connect to external devices and transmit data. It uses a BLE 5.0 module (CC2541 chip), supporting low-power Bluetooth communication, operating at 2.4GHz, with a transmission distance of 10m. After penetrating a bathroom wall, the stable communication distance is ≥5m. It supports the GATT protocol and has a custom service UUID for urine volume data transmission. The power management unit is integrated into the main controller 7, using a TP4056 charging management chip and an LM1117-3.3V regulator to provide overcharge and over-discharge protection for the lithium battery pack (12V / 5Ah). It converts 12V to 3.3V to power the microcontroller, ADC module, and Bluetooth module (total power consumption ≤150mA), and supports power status monitoring (by sampling battery voltage via ADC). A low-battery alarm is triggered when the voltage drops below 8V.

[0039] Solenoid valve 6 is installed on urine collection container 4 for draining urine. Solenoid valve 6 is a DC12V normally closed anti-crystallization solenoid valve, and it is used in conjunction with solenoid valve button 10 to control its opening and closing.

[0040] Solenoid valve button 10 is connected to main controller 7 inside handrail column 8 via wires. Main controller 7 is connected to solenoid valve 6 and lithium battery pack respectively, forming a control circuit.

[0041] After the user presses the solenoid valve button 10, the signal is transmitted to the main controller 7. The main controller controls the solenoid valve 6 to be energized and opened to discharge urine into the main drain pipe of the toilet to avoid secondary residue. After emptying, the solenoid valve 6 can be closed by the logic of the main controller 7.

[0042] The infrared human body sensor 9 is used to detect whether the user is approaching. The infrared human body sensor 9 is located in the middle of the back of the toilet seat, with a detection angle of 120° and a detection distance of 0.3-1m. It enters sleep mode after 10 minutes of continuous inactivity.

[0043] This invention overcomes the limitations of traditional toilets in measuring and recording urine volume, making it convenient for patients who do not wish to use urinals or commodes, as well as for elderly people with poor eyesight. Users can track urine volume while using the toilet or emptying urine into a urinal, ensuring convenience and hygiene. Accurate urine volume data helps doctors develop more precise medication plans, reducing repeated medical visits and health risks caused by medication issues. A voice broadcast module announces the volume of each urination, meeting the needs of visually impaired or elderly users for immediate information. A Bluetooth module connects to the user's mobile phone, displaying urine volume in real time, recording historical data, and automatically generating urine volume trend charts, allowing users to monitor their urine volume changes promptly. This provides strong support for chronic disease management, improves the effectiveness of the device, and meets practical usage needs.

[0044] Working principle: Infrared human body sensor 9 detects the user's approach and records the initial weight (tare weight) of urine collection container 4. When the user urinates, urine flows into urine collection container 4. Strain gauge sensor 5 detects the weight change and converts it into a voltage signal. The main controller 7 receives the signal, converts it through a high-precision ADC module, and processes it through a microcontroller to calculate the urine volume. After urination, the voice synthesis module announces the urine volume. The user manually presses the solenoid valve button 10 to expel the urine. At the same time, the Bluetooth module uploads the urine volume data to the mobile phone to realize functions such as real-time display, historical records, and trend chart generation.

[0045] Finally, it should be noted that the above descriptions are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art can still modify the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments or make equivalent substitutions for some of the technical features. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A urine volume detection system based on a strain gauge sensor, characterized in that: It includes a urine collection container (4), a strain gauge sensor (5), a solenoid valve (6), a main controller (7), and an infrared human body sensor (9); The upper port of the urine collection container (4) is used to receive urine, and the lower port is connected to the strain gauge sensor (5); the strain gauge sensor (5) is used to detect the weight change of the urine collection container (4); the main controller (7) is connected to the strain gauge sensor (5), the solenoid valve (6) and the infrared human body sensor (9) respectively; the solenoid valve (6) is set on the urine collection container (4) and is used to discharge urine; the infrared human body sensor (9) is used to detect whether the user is close.

2. The urine volume detection system based on a strain gauge sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that: The strain gauge sensor (5) is equipped with four strain gauges, which are symmetrically supported and connected between the bottom of the urine collection container (4) and the sewage pipe. It is equipped with an IP67 stainless steel housing and is filled with sealing silicone for moisture protection. The strain gauge sensor (5) is equipped with a Wheatstone bridge circuit, which is composed of four 350Ω metal foil strain gauges forming a full bridge with a temperature coefficient of <0.1% / ℃.

3. The urine volume detection system based on a strain gauge sensor according to claim 2, characterized in that: The main controller (7) includes a high-precision ADC module, a microcontroller, a voice synthesis module, a Bluetooth module, and a power management unit; the high-precision ADC module is used to convert analog signals into digital signals; the microcontroller is used to process data and calculate urine volume; the voice synthesis module is used to announce urine volume; and the Bluetooth module is used to connect to external devices to transmit data.

4. The urine volume detection system based on a strain gauge sensor according to claim 3, characterized in that: The high-precision ADC module has a 24-bit resolution, a sampling rate of 100Hz, and an input range of ±20mV; the microcontroller has an ARM Cortex-M4 core and a main frequency of 120MHz.

5. The urine volume detection system based on a strain gauge sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that: The urine collection container (4) has an inverted trapezoidal structure and a non-slip silicone base at the bottom. The wall thickness is 2mm. The surface of the urine collection container (4) is treated with a hydrophobic coating.

6. The urine volume detection system based on a strain gauge sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that: The solenoid valve (6) is a DC12V normally closed anti-crystallization solenoid valve, and is used in conjunction with the solenoid valve button (10) to control the opening and closing of the solenoid valve (6).

7. The urine volume detection system based on a strain gauge sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that: The infrared human body sensor (9) is located in the middle of the back of the toilet seat, with a detection angle of 120° and a detection distance of 0.3-1m. It enters a sleep state after 10 minutes of inactivity.

8. The urine volume detection system based on a strain gauge sensor according to claim 3, characterized in that: The volume of the voice synthesis module is adjustable, and it is triggered and broadcasts the urine volume after urination is completed and the urine volume is calculated.

9. The urine volume detection system based on a strain gauge sensor according to claim 3, characterized in that: The Bluetooth module has a transmission distance of 10m and is used to transmit urine volume data to the user's mobile phone in real time, record historical data, and automatically generate urine volume trend charts.

10. A smart toilet, characterized in that, The system includes a urine volume detection system based on a strain gauge sensor as described in any one of claims 1-9, and a toilet body (1), a seat cushion (2), a handrail post (8), and a solenoid valve button (10). The toilet body (1) includes an open toilet cavity (3), a urine collection container (4) is embedded in the toilet body (1), the handrail post (8) is located on the side of the toilet body (1), the main controller (7), the solenoid valve button (10), and the lithium battery pack are located in the handrail post (8), the solenoid valve button (10) is located on the handrail post (8), and the seat cushion (2) is installed on the toilet body (1).

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