Active voice interaction control method and device for electric water heater and electronic equipment

Abstract

The embodiment of the application provides a kind of active voice interaction control method, device and electronic equipment of electric water heater, it is related to the intelligent control technical field of electric water heater.The method is by responding to the detection that user enters preset interaction area, voice broadcast current operating state information;In the process of broadcasting current operating state information, whether user executes preset interrupt instruction is identified;When detecting preset interrupt instruction, control electric water heater to terminate current voice broadcast and enter standby state.The method realizes the active perception and no-sense start of electric water heater, without user manual touch or wake-up device can obtain operating state information, improves the interaction efficiency and user experience.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of intelligent control technology for electric water heaters, and in particular to an active voice interaction control method, device, and electronic device for electric water heaters. Background Technology

[0002] Electric water heaters are widely used in home bathrooms, and their ease of operation directly impacts the user experience. With the development of smart home technology, providing safe and convenient interaction methods for elderly users and people with mobility impairments has become an important direction for the intelligent upgrading of electric water heaters.

[0003] Current electric water heaters mainly rely on physical buttons or touch screens for operation. Users need to actively touch the control panel in wet, slippery, and low-light environments to complete functions such as temperature adjustment and mode switching.

[0004] The current interaction method of electric water heaters relies on users to manually touch to wake up the device. Users cannot automatically obtain the device's operating status information when entering the bathroom, which leads to cumbersome operation steps, low interaction efficiency, and risks of accidental touch and safety hazards in wet and slippery environments. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application provides an active voice interaction control method, device, and electronic device for electric water heaters, which solves the problems of cumbersome operation and low interaction efficiency caused by the reliance on manual touch or wake-up of the device in existing electric water heaters. In particular, in the case of wet and slippery bathroom environments where users need to actively perform physical operations, it leads to difficulties for special groups to use the device and poses safety risks such as electric shock and accidental touch.

[0006] In a first aspect, this application provides an active voice interaction control method for an electric water heater, comprising:

[0007] In response to detecting that a user has entered a preset interaction area, the system will announce the current operating status information via voice.

[0008] During the process of broadcasting the current operating status information, it is identified whether the user executes a preset interrupt command;

[0009] When the preset interrupt command is detected, the electric water heater is controlled to terminate the current voice broadcast and enter standby mode.

[0010] Optionally, detecting that a user has entered a preset interaction area includes:

[0011] The presence of a heat source within the interaction area is detected using an infrared sensor.

[0012] After detecting the heat source, the motion vector information and height of the heat source are detected by millimeter-wave radar;

[0013] When the motion vector information matches the preset motion characteristics and the height is greater than the preset height threshold, the user is confirmed to have entered the preset interaction area. The preset motion characteristics include: the motion speed is lower than the preset speed threshold and the motion trajectory is continuous.

[0014] Optionally, the preset interruption command includes: a preset gesture command and / or a preset voice command, and identifying whether the user executes the preset interruption command includes:

[0015] Detect whether the user executes the preset gesture command;

[0016] Detect whether the user has issued the preset voice command;

[0017] When the preset gesture command and / or the preset voice command are detected, it is determined that the preset interrupt command has been detected.

[0018] Optionally, the voice broadcast of the current operating status information includes:

[0019] The voice broadcast content is generated based on the user's historical usage data;

[0020] Based on the user's identity tag, a voice broadcast strategy is determined, and the broadcast strategy includes at least one of the following: normal broadcast, slow speech broadcast, high volume broadcast, and dialect broadcast;

[0021] The current operating status information is broadcast according to the aforementioned voice broadcasting strategy.

[0022] Optionally, after broadcasting the current running status information according to the voice broadcasting strategy, the method further includes:

[0023] Obtain user feedback on the broadcast content;

[0024] The user's identity tag is updated based on the feedback information to adjust the generation strategy for subsequent broadcast content.

[0025] Optionally, generating voice broadcast content based on the user's historical usage data includes:

[0026] Obtain current ambient temperature, real-time electricity price, and users' historical preferred water usage times;

[0027] Based on the ambient temperature, the real-time electricity price, and the historical preferred water usage periods, energy-saving suggestion information is generated;

[0028] The energy-saving recommendations are read aloud.

[0029] Secondly, this application provides an active voice interaction control device for an electric water heater, comprising:

[0030] The processing module is used to respond to the detection that a user has entered a preset interactive area and to announce the current running status information via voice.

[0031] The processing module is also used to identify whether the user executes a preset interrupt command during the process of broadcasting the current running status information;

[0032] The processing module is also used to control the electric water heater to terminate the current voice broadcast and enter a standby state when the preset interrupt command is detected.

[0033] Optionally, the device further includes: a determining module;

[0034] The processing module is also used to detect whether there is a heat source in the interaction area using an infrared sensor;

[0035] The processing module is also used to detect the motion vector information and height of the heat source by millimeter-wave radar after the heat source is detected;

[0036] The determining module is used to confirm that the user has entered the preset interaction area when the motion vector information matches the preset motion characteristics and the height is greater than the preset height threshold. The preset motion characteristics include: the motion speed is lower than the preset speed threshold and the motion trajectory is continuous.

[0037] Optionally, the processing module is further configured to detect whether the user executes the preset gesture command;

[0038] The processing module is also used to detect whether the user has issued the preset voice command;

[0039] The determining module is further configured to determine that the preset interruption command has been detected when the preset gesture command and / or the preset voice command is detected.

[0040] Optionally, the processing module is further configured to generate voice broadcast content based on the user's historical usage data;

[0041] The determining module is further configured to determine a voice broadcasting strategy based on the user's identity tag, wherein the broadcasting strategy includes at least one of the following: normal broadcasting, slow speech broadcasting, high volume broadcasting, and dialect broadcasting;

[0042] The processing module is also used to broadcast the current operating status information according to the voice broadcasting strategy.

[0043] Optionally, the device further includes: an acquisition module;

[0044] The acquisition module is used to acquire user feedback information on the broadcast content;

[0045] The processing module is also used to update the user's identity tag based on the feedback information in order to adjust the generation strategy of subsequent broadcast content.

[0046] Optionally, the acquisition module is also used to acquire the current ambient temperature, real-time electricity price, and the user's historical preferred water usage time periods;

[0047] The processing module is also used to generate energy-saving suggestion information based on the ambient temperature, the real-time electricity price, and the historical preferred water usage periods;

[0048] The processing module is also used to broadcast the energy-saving advice information via voice.

[0049] Thirdly, this application provides an electric water heater, including: a human body sensing sensor, a gesture recognition device, a voice collector, a voice broadcaster, and a controller;

[0050] The human body perception sensor is used to detect whether the user has entered the preset interaction area;

[0051] The gesture recognition device is used to recognize preset gestures performed by the user;

[0052] The voice collector is used to collect preset voice commands issued by the user;

[0053] The voice broadcaster is used to output current operating status information;

[0054] The controller is communicatively connected to the human body perception sensor, the gesture recognition device, the voice collector, and the voice broadcaster, respectively. The controller is configured to execute the active voice interaction control method for an electric water heater as described in the first aspect and various possible implementations of the first aspect above.

[0055] Fourthly, this application provides an electronic device, including: a processor, and a memory communicatively connected to the processor;

[0056] The memory stores computer-executed instructions;

[0057] The processor executes computer execution instructions stored in the memory to implement the active voice interaction control method for an electric water heater as described in the first aspect and various possible implementations of the first aspect above.

[0058] Fifthly, this application provides a computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions thereon, which, when executed by a processor, are used to implement the active voice interaction control method for an electric water heater as described in the first aspect and various possible implementations of the first aspect.

[0059] Sixthly, this application provides a program product, including a computer program, which, when executed by a processor, implements the active voice interaction control method for an electric water heater as described above.

[0060] The active voice interaction control method, device, and electronic device for electric water heaters provided in this application automatically announce the current water temperature, mode, and other status information by voice when a user enters a preset area. During the announcement, the method identifies in real time whether the user issues an interruption command. Once an interruption is detected, the announcement is immediately stopped and the device enters a standby state. This allows the user to obtain operating information without manually touching the device and to interrupt lengthy announcements at any time. This solves the safety hazards of manual operation in slippery environments and the inefficiency of passively waiting for the announcement to end. Attached Figure Description

[0061] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with this application and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this application.

[0062] Figure 1 A flowchart illustrating an active voice interaction control method for an electric water heater provided in this application. Figure 1 ;

[0063] Figure 2 A flowchart illustrating an active voice interaction control method for an electric water heater provided in this application. Figure 2 ;

[0064] Figure 3 This application provides a structural schematic diagram of an electric water heater;

[0065] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the structure of an active voice interaction control device for an electric water heater provided in this application;

[0066] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an electronic device provided in this application.

[0067] The accompanying drawings illustrate specific embodiments of this application, which will be described in more detail below. These drawings and descriptions are not intended to limit the scope of the concept in any way, but rather to illustrate the concept of this application to those skilled in the art through reference to particular embodiments. Detailed Implementation

[0068] Exemplary embodiments will now be described in detail, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. When the following description relates to the drawings, unless otherwise indicated, the same numbers in different drawings denote the same or similar elements. The embodiments described in the following exemplary embodiments do not represent all embodiments consistent with this application. Rather, they are merely examples of apparatuses and methods consistent with some aspects of this application as detailed in the appended claims.

[0069] It should be noted that the user information (including but not limited to user device information, user personal information, etc.) and data (including but not limited to data used for analysis, data stored, data displayed, etc.) involved in this application are all information and data authorized by the user or fully authorized by all parties. Furthermore, the collection, storage, use, processing, transmission, provision, disclosure, and application of the relevant data all comply with the relevant laws, regulations, and standards of the relevant regions, have taken necessary confidentiality measures, do not violate public order and good morals, and provide corresponding operation portals for users to choose to authorize or refuse.

[0070] Furthermore, the technical solution involved in this application, which involves big data analysis of user information (including but not limited to personal biometrics, identity data, consumption data, asset data, electronic terminal operation data, etc.) and the use of artificial intelligence technology for automated decision-making, and makes decisions that have a significant impact on personal rights based on the results of automated decision-making, provides users with corresponding operation entry points for users to choose to agree to or reject the results of automated decision-making; if the user chooses to reject, the process will proceed to the expert decision-making process.

[0071] Electric water heaters are widely used in home bathrooms, hotel rooms, and public bathing facilities. Their ease of operation directly impacts user experience and safety. With the popularization of smart home technology, users have higher demands for the interaction methods of electric water heaters, especially for elderly users and those with mobility issues. Providing an interaction method that requires no complicated operations or precise touch controls has become a core focus of the intelligent upgrade of electric water heaters. For example, elderly users often have difficulty recognizing the text on small touch panels while showering due to vision deterioration, or they may accidentally touch adjacent buttons, leading to unexpected increases in water temperature or unexpected shutdown of the device.

[0072] Current electric water heaters primarily rely on physical buttons or touchscreens for operation. Users must actively locate and touch the panel in a wet, dimly lit bathroom environment to perform functions such as temperature adjustment, mode switching, and power on / off. For example, the device does not automatically inform the user of the current water temperature and heating status upon entering the bathroom. To check the water temperature, the user must manually press a button to activate the water heater.

[0073] Current electric water heaters rely on manual touch controls to wake the device, preventing users from automatically receiving operating status information upon entering the bathroom. This results in cumbersome operation, low efficiency, and safety risks such as accidental touches and electric shocks in slippery environments. Specifically, users must actively initiate each interaction, rather than the device proactively sensing user needs and providing information, severely impacting the user experience.

[0074] To address the aforementioned issues, this application proposes an active voice interaction control method, device, and electronic device for electric water heaters. By responding to the detection of a user entering a preset interaction area, the device automatically broadcasts the current operating status information via voice. During the broadcast, it identifies whether the user executes a preset interrupt command, immediately terminating the broadcast and entering a standby state. This constructs an interaction mechanism from "passive response" to "active perception," enabling users to obtain the operating status without manual touch, eliminating the risk of accidental touch and electric shock in slippery environments. This application can be widely applied in electric water heater usage scenarios with high requirements for ease of operation and safety, such as home bathrooms, elderly care communities, and accessible restrooms, and is particularly suitable for elderly users and people with mobility impairments. The executing entity of this application is the electric water heater itself, which integrates a human presence detection sensor, a gesture recognition device, a voice collector, and a voice broadcaster; however, this application does not specifically limit these components.

[0075] It should be noted that the active voice interaction control method, device and electronic equipment for electric water heaters provided in this application can be used in the field of intelligent control technology for electric water heaters, and can also be used in any field other than intelligent control of electric water heaters. This application does not limit the application field of the active voice interaction control method, device and electronic equipment for electric water heaters.

[0076] The technical solution of this application and how the technical solution of this application solves the above-mentioned technical problems are described in detail below with specific embodiments. These specific embodiments can be combined with each other, and the same or similar concepts or processes may not be described again in some embodiments. The embodiments of this application will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0077] Figure 1 A flowchart illustrating an active voice interaction control method for an electric water heater provided in this application embodiment. Figure 1 .like Figure 1 As shown, the active voice interaction control method for an electric water heater provided in this embodiment includes:

[0078] S101. In response to detecting that a user has entered a preset interaction area, the system will announce the current operating status information via voice.

[0079] The preset interactive area refers to a three-dimensional spatial range centered on the electric water heater. For example, a semi-circular or fan-shaped area with a radius of about 0.5 meters, with the area in front of the electric water heater's control panel as the reference.

[0080] Current operating status information refers to the real-time operating data of the electric water heater at the time of the broadcast, including at least the water temperature value and the current working mode (such as standard mode, energy-saving mode, quick-heating mode, etc.).

[0081] Voice broadcasting converts the current operating status parameters of the electric water heater (such as current water temperature, heating mode, remaining heating time, whether it is in energy-saving mode, etc.) into natural language speech and outputs it through the built-in speaker.

[0082] One possible implementation is that, in standby or low-power mode, the electric water heater continuously senses the presence of a user within a preset interaction area using a human presence detection sensor. When the sensor detects a user entering the preset interaction area, it immediately reads key operating data such as the current water temperature, working mode, and heating status from the water heater's operating parameter register. The read operating status information is then converted into voice commands according to a preset broadcast template, driving the voice broadcaster to output the command.

[0083] S102. During the process of broadcasting the current running status information, identify whether the user has executed a preset interrupt instruction.

[0084] The identification process involves collecting user behavior signals (including gestures and voice commands) through sensors and using signal processing and matching algorithms to determine whether the signal matches a predefined interrupt command.

[0085] A preset interrupt command refers to a signal that the user can actively issue to immediately terminate the current voice broadcast. One possible implementation includes preset interrupt commands such as:

[0086] Gesture commands: such as waving, pushing the palm forward, and other preset actions;

[0087] Voice commands: such as saying preset keywords like "stop", "stop", "don't say it".

[0088] One possible implementation is to send an activation signal to the gesture recognition device and voice collector when the electric water heater starts outputting the current operating status information through the voice broadcaster, thereby activating the gesture recognition and voice recognition channels.

[0089] Gesture recognition devices (such as infrared sensors) collect the three-dimensional motion trajectory, speed, and direction of the user's hand in real time; compare the collected actions with a preset interruption gesture template; when the matching degree between the actions and the template exceeds a preset threshold for two or more consecutive frames, a gesture interruption command is detected.

[0090] The voice acquisition device collects sound signals from the environment in real time and matches the sound signals with a preset list of interruption keywords (such as "stop", "stop", "end broadcast"); when any preset keyword is identified and the confidence level is higher than the threshold, it is determined that a voice interruption command has been detected.

[0091] If either the gesture recognition channel or the voice recognition channel detects an interrupt command, it is considered that the user has executed a preset interrupt command; once an interrupt command is detected, an interrupt signal is immediately generated.

[0092] Optionally, if neither of the two recognition channels detects any interruption command during the entire process from the start of the broadcast to the natural end of the broadcast content, the system will enter a standby state or wait for other user commands after the broadcast ends normally.

[0093] S103. When a preset interrupt command is detected, control the electric water heater to terminate the current voice broadcast and enter standby mode.

[0094] Among them, "Terminate Current Voice Broadcast" means that the electric water heater immediately stops outputting the voice signal and no longer broadcasts the remaining unfinished operating status information.

[0095] Standby mode refers to the pre-interaction mode that the electric water heater enters after the broadcast ends. In this state, the electric water heater maintains low power consumption and continues to detect whether the user issues new operation commands or re-enters the interaction area, but does not actively output any voice information.

[0096] One possible implementation is as follows: when the gesture recognition channel and / or voice recognition channel confirm that the user has executed a preset interrupt command, an interrupt trigger signal is sent to the electric water heater controller; after receiving the interrupt trigger signal, the controller immediately sends a stop command to the voice broadcast module, the voice broadcast module cuts off the speaker drive signal, clears the voice data that has not been broadcast, so that the sound output stops for a short time; the "broadcast status" flag in the electric water heater's operating status register is cleared to zero, the "standby status" flag is enabled, and the system switches to standby status.

[0097] This embodiment provides an active voice interaction control method for an electric water heater. When a user enters a preset area, the method automatically broadcasts the current water temperature, mode, and other status information via voice. During the broadcast, the method identifies in real time whether the user issues an interruption command. Once an interruption is detected, the broadcast immediately stops and the device enters a standby state. This allows the user to obtain operating information without manually touching the device and to interrupt lengthy broadcasts at any time. This solves the safety hazards of manual operation in slippery environments and the inefficiency of passively waiting for the broadcast to end.

[0098] Figure 2A flowchart illustrating an active voice interaction control method for an electric water heater provided in this application embodiment. Figure 2 .like Figure 2 As shown, in Figure 1 Based on the embodiments, the active voice interaction control method for electric water heaters is described in detail, including:

[0099] S201. Detect the presence of a heat source within the interaction area using an infrared sensor.

[0100] Infrared sensors are infrared detectors that operate based on the thermoelectric effect or pyroelectric principle, capable of sensing changes in the infrared energy radiated by objects in the environment. When an object with a temperature higher than the ambient temperature moves in front of the sensor, the sensor outputs a corresponding electrical signal.

[0101] A heat source is an object whose temperature is higher than the ambient temperature.

[0102] One possible implementation is that after the electric water heater is powered on, the infrared sensor enters working mode and receives infrared radiation in the interaction area in real time; when there is no moving heat source in the area, the infrared sensor outputs a stable signal; when a heat source enters or moves, the infrared sensor outputs a pulse.

[0103] The analog output of the sensor is acquired at a fixed frequency and converted into a digital signal. The acquired digital signal is compared with a preset static signal, and the difference is calculated. The difference is compared with a preset heat source detection threshold. If the difference exceeds the threshold and lasts for at least two sampling periods (e.g., 5 seconds), it is determined that there is a heat source in the interaction area, and a "heat source present" signal is output. If the difference does not exceed the threshold, or the signal duration is less than two sampling periods, it is determined that there is no heat source or interference, and a "no heat source" signal is output.

[0104] The infrared sensor sends the determination result (heat source present / no heat source) to the electric water heater controller via an interface; the controller decides whether to execute subsequent steps based on the determination result. For example, if a heat source is detected, the current timestamp is recorded and the next stage of detection is initiated; if no heat source is detected, the system continues to operate in low-power mode.

[0105] S202. After detecting a heat source, the motion vector information and height of the heat source are detected by millimeter-wave radar.

[0106] Millimeter-wave radar measures the target's distance, speed, and altitude by transmitting frequency-modulated continuous waves and receiving the reflected echoes from the target.

[0107] Motion vector information refers to the set of physical quantities representing the motion state of a heat source in three-dimensional space, including, for example:

[0108] Motion speed: The radial velocity of the target relative to the radar;

[0109] Direction of motion: The angular orientation of the target relative to the radar;

[0110] Motion trajectory: The sequence of positional changes of a target over a continuous period of time, used to determine whether the motion is continuous.

[0111] One possible implementation is that when the infrared sensor outputs a "heat source detected" signal, the controller immediately sends a wake-up command to the millimeter-wave radar; the radar then switches from a low-power sleep mode to a working mode and scans the interactive area.

[0112] Millimeter-wave radar transmits linear frequency modulated pulse signals at a fixed period (e.g., 20ms per frame) and simultaneously receives the reflected echoes generated when the transmitted signals encounter a target (heat source). Peak values ​​are extracted in the range, velocity, and angle dimensions to obtain the parameters of the target (heat source). Based on the measurement results of multiple consecutive frames, motion vector information is calculated. The absolute height of the target is calculated using the elevation angle and the straight-line distance measured by the radar.

[0113] The calculated motion speed, motion direction, motion trajectory continuity indicator, and target height value are packaged into a data structure and sent to the controller through the communication interface for use in subsequent steps.

[0114] It should be noted that if the radar detects multiple heat sources, it can select the closest target with the strongest signal as the primary target.

[0115] S203. When the motion vector information matches the preset motion characteristics and the height is greater than the preset height threshold, confirm that the user has entered the preset interaction area and announce the current running status information by voice. The preset motion characteristics include: the motion speed is lower than the preset speed threshold and the motion trajectory is continuous.

[0116] Among them, continuous motion trajectory refers to the target's position changes forming a smooth path over multiple consecutive frames.

[0117] One possible implementation involves acquiring the currently detected motion speed, direction of motion, trajectory, and target height from millimeter-wave radar; comparing the acquired motion speed with a preset speed threshold; if the motion speed is less than or equal to the preset speed threshold, proceeding to the next step of trajectory continuity judgment; if the motion speed is greater than the preset speed threshold, determining that the target is moving too fast, does not conform to the user's behavior characteristics, not triggering a broadcast, and returning to the continuous detection state.

[0118] Check the continuity of the trajectory. For example, calculate the standard deviation of the position change between adjacent frames based on the position coordinates of consecutive frames. If the standard deviation is less than the preset dispersion threshold, it is judged as continuous. If the trajectory is continuous, it is judged that "the motion trajectory meets the requirements". If the trajectory is discontinuous, it is judged as interference and the process ends.

[0119] The target height is compared with a preset height threshold. If the target height is greater than the preset height threshold, the target is determined to be a user; if the target height is less than or equal to the preset height threshold, the target is determined to be a non-user, such as a pet or a child, and the process ends.

[0120] If all three conditions (speed, trajectory continuity, and height) are met, the signal confirms that the user has entered the preset interaction area; if any condition is not met, the detection is invalid and no announcement is made.

[0121] Once the user's login is confirmed, the system immediately reads the current operating status information of the electric water heater and outputs a pre-formatted broadcast message.

[0122] By continuously detecting heat sources using infrared sensors, the system can quickly sense the presence of potential users while filtering out interference from non-heat sources. Upon detecting a heat source, millimeter-wave radar further measures movement speed, trajectory continuity, and altitude: Movement speed below a preset speed threshold, continuous trajectory, and altitude above a preset height threshold exclude rapidly moving non-interactive targets. This ensures that entry into the interactive area is only confirmed and voice announcements are triggered when a real user approaches continuously at a normal walking pace. This reduces invalid announcements and improves the user experience.

[0123] S204. During the process of broadcasting the current running status information, detect whether the user has executed a preset gesture command.

[0124] Among them, preset gesture commands refer to pre-stored hand gesture templates used to express specific interactive intentions.

[0125] One possible implementation is that when the electric water heater begins to output its current operating status information via a voice announcer, the water heater's controller immediately sends an activation signal to the gesture recognition device. The gesture recognition device then switches to operating mode and captures hand movements within the interaction area at a fixed frame rate. Specifically, the gesture recognition device could be a depth camera, capturing the user's hand data in real time.

[0126] The controller processes multiple consecutive frames of hand data to extract motion features, such as:

[0127] Hand movement trajectory: The displacement path of the hand in three-dimensional space, such as the horizontal left and right movement trajectory;

[0128] Hand movement speed: The speed at which the hand moves, usually measured in meters per second;

[0129] Hand movement direction: the direction in which the hand moves (left, right, up, down, forward, backward);

[0130] Hand gesture duration: The total duration of a hand gesture from start to finish.

[0131] Specifically, the instruction template for interrupting a hand gesture is as follows: the hand moves back and forth horizontally at least once, with a movement amplitude exceeding 10 centimeters, a movement speed between 0.2 m / s and 1.0 m / s, and the overall action duration is greater than 2 seconds; the similarity score between the collected action and the template is calculated. The extracted motion features are compared with the preset gesture instruction template to obtain a similarity score. If the similarity score is greater than a preset similarity threshold, it is determined that the user has executed the preset gesture instruction. A "preset gesture instruction detected" trigger signal is sent to the control unit.

[0132] If no gesture is matched during the broadcast, no trigger signal is generated, and the detection continues until the broadcast ends.

[0133] S205. Detect whether the user has issued a preset voice command.

[0134] Among them, preset voice commands refer to keywords or phrases that are prepared in advance to express specific interactive intentions.

[0135] One possible implementation is that when the electric water heater starts outputting voice broadcast content, the controller of the electric water heater immediately sends an activation signal to the voice acquisition device (such as a microphone); the microphone switches to working mode and acquires voice information in the interactive area at a fixed frame rate.

[0136] Specifically, the microphone continuously collects ambient sound signals, including shower water noise and exhaust fan noise. Sound from the front of the water heater (where the user is standing) is amplified directionally, while side and rear noise is suppressed to extract relatively clean user voice information.

[0137] The system continuously detects whether the user has started speaking and whether the speech has ended. When the start of a speech segment is detected, the start time is recorded and the audio data is cached. The acoustic features of the audio data are extracted. The acoustic features are matched with preset voice command templates, and the confidence score of each candidate command is calculated.

[0138] When the confidence score of a preset voice command exceeds a preset threshold, it is determined that the user has issued the preset voice command. A signal indicating that the preset voice command has been detected is sent to the controller.

[0139] If no valid instruction is detected during the broadcast, no trigger signal is generated, and the monitoring continues until the broadcast ends.

[0140] S206. When a preset gesture command and / or preset voice command is detected, it is determined that a preset interrupt command has been detected.

[0141] The controller simultaneously detects the output signals of the gesture recognition channel and the voice recognition channel; as long as either channel has a trigger signal, the interrupt command is deemed valid, and the preset interrupt command is determined to have been detected.

[0142] By detecting gesture and voice commands in parallel, redundant and complementary dual interruption channels are achieved. Specifically, the gesture channel provides a silent interruption method when the user is unable to speak (e.g., with foam in their mouth or in a noisy environment); the voice channel provides a contactless interruption method when the user's hands are occupied (e.g., holding a towel or applying shower gel). Both operate independently, and an interruption is triggered as soon as either channel detects a valid command, thus completing the response quickly. Users can freely choose the interruption method according to the current scenario, ensuring that the broadcast is terminated immediately, effectively solving the pain point of traditional solutions where users have to passively wait for the broadcast to end.

[0143] S207. When a preset interrupt command is detected, generate voice broadcast content based on the user's historical usage data.

[0144] Among them, the preset interruption command refers to the command issued by the user through gestures and / or voice to interrupt the current voice broadcast.

[0145] User historical usage data refers to a dataset of user's historical usage behavior recorded by the electric water heater, including, for example, commonly used water temperature ranges, commonly used time periods, and commonly used preference patterns.

[0146] One possible implementation is to immediately terminate the currently running voice broadcast when a preset interruption command is detected; load the historical usage data of the current user (identified by the voice collector or a default family member) from the local memory; and generate personalized broadcast content based on the above data.

[0147] Specifically, if the water temperature is lower than the historically commonly used water temperature when the user interrupts the water supply, a suggested temperature increase prompt will be generated, such as "The current water temperature is 38℃, which is lower than your usual 42℃. Do you need to heat it now?" If the user interrupts the water supply close to their usual water usage time (e.g., within 30 minutes) and the water temperature is insufficient, a reminder will be generated, such as "You usually take a shower at 18:30. The current water temperature is only 35℃. Do you need to start the fast heating mode immediately?"

[0148] S208. Determine the voice broadcast strategy based on the user's identity tag. The broadcast strategy includes at least one of the following: normal broadcast, slow speech broadcast, high volume broadcast, and dialect broadcast.

[0149] The user's identification tag refers to the identification information set by the electric water heater to distinguish different users. The tag can be manually selected by the user (such as setting "senior mode" when using it for the first time) or learned over time (automatically generated based on historical interaction behavior).

[0150] Voice broadcast strategy refers to a set of parameter configurations used by electric water heaters when outputting voice information, which are adapted to the auditory needs, language habits and cognitive abilities of different users.

[0151] One possible implementation is to read the identity tag of the currently interacting user from local storage. For example, if a specific family member is identified through a human body sensor or voiceprint recognition, that member's tag is used directly; if no specific individual is identified, a default tag (ordinary adult) is used, or the tag with the highest historical usage frequency is used as the default value.

[0152] The controller has a built-in set of policy mapping rules that associate different identity tags with corresponding broadcast policy combinations. For example, for the "ordinary adult" tag, the broadcast is delivered at normal speed and volume in Mandarin; for the "elderly user" tag, the broadcast is delivered at slow speed and volume in Mandarin; and for the "Cantonese user" tag, the broadcast is delivered at normal speed and volume in Cantonese.

[0153] S209. Broadcast the current operating status information according to the voice broadcast strategy.

[0154] The system reads the generated text to be broadcast (e.g., "Current water temperature 40℃, standard mode") from the broadcast content buffer, and at the same time reads the determined broadcast strategy parameters from the strategy memory, including speech rate coefficient, volume gain, and language / dialect.

[0155] The text to be broadcast is converted into speech signals word by word. For example, for Mandarin broadcasts, a mapping from standard Pinyin to acoustic parameters is used; for dialect broadcasts, corresponding pronunciations are generated based on dialect dictionaries.

[0156] Broadcast content is generated based on users' historical usage data, making the broadcast information tailored to personal habits (such as frequently used water temperature and energy-saving preferences); broadcast strategies such as speaking speed, volume, and dialect are determined based on identity tags, providing slow speaking speed and high volume for elderly users and native language broadcast for users speaking dialects; finally, the operating status is output according to the strategy, thereby improving the user experience.

[0157] Optionally, when generating voice broadcast content based on the user's historical usage data, the current ambient temperature, real-time electricity price, and the user's historical preferred water usage periods can be obtained;

[0158] Based on ambient temperature, real-time electricity prices, and historical preferred water usage times, energy-saving suggestions are generated.

[0159] Energy-saving suggestions are read aloud via voice.

[0160] The system reads data from ambient temperature sensors, locally stored historical water usage data, and real-time electricity prices to generate energy-saving suggestions. For example, if the current ambient temperature is low (e.g., below 10°C) and it is close to the user's preferred water usage time (e.g., within 30 minutes), but the current water temperature is insufficient, it is recommended to heat the water immediately. If the current period is during peak electricity prices and the user's preferred water usage time is near off-peak hours, it is recommended to schedule heating during off-peak hours and estimate the energy-saving percentage (e.g., "Scheduling heating at 6 AM tomorrow can save 18% of electricity").

[0161] Convert energy-saving suggestions into natural language (e.g., "The current outdoor temperature is low, it is recommended to adjust to 45℃, and you can save 18% of electricity by scheduling heating at 6 am tomorrow"), and output them according to the previously determined broadcast strategy.

[0162] S210. After broadcasting the current operating status information according to the voice broadcasting strategy, obtain the user's feedback information on the broadcast content.

[0163] Feedback information refers to the user's verbal response to the recently played status information or suggestions. Feedback information can be divided into positive and negative categories, such as "Okay," "I understand," "Sure"; or "No need," "No need," "Not this one."

[0164] One possible implementation is to not immediately enter standby mode after the voice broadcast module finishes outputting, but instead launch a short feedback window. The duration of this window can be pre-configured, typically set to 5-10 seconds, giving the user sufficient time to express their feedback.

[0165] Within the feedback window, the voice capture device remains active to capture the user's verbal responses. Recognized keywords ("okay," "no," etc.) along with the context of the spoken content are recorded in local storage. If there is no response or a timeout occurs, it is considered no feedback and the window is closed.

[0166] S211. Update the user's identity tag based on the feedback information to adjust the generation strategy of subsequent broadcast content.

[0167] After the broadcast ends and user feedback is obtained, "good" is judged as positive acceptance and "unnecessary" is judged as negative rejection. For example, if a user rejects the energy-saving suggestion multiple times in a row, the weight of the "energy-saving preference" tag will be reduced, while the weight of "fast heating preference" may be increased. If a user frequently receives dialect broadcasts, the "dialect user" tag will be strengthened. The modified tags and weights are stored in local non-volatile memory. During the next broadcast, the broadcast content (such as reducing energy-saving suggestions) and broadcast strategy (such as maintaining dialect) will be reselected based on the updated tags.

[0168] This embodiment provides an active voice interaction control method for an electric water heater. The method utilizes an infrared sensor to detect the presence of a heat source. Once a heat source is detected, millimeter-wave radar is activated to detect the heat source's movement speed, trajectory continuity, and height exceeding a threshold. Only when the movement speed is slow, the trajectory is continuous, and the height exceeds a set value is it confirmed that a genuine user has entered a preset area, and the current status is automatically announced via voice. During the announcement, the system simultaneously detects whether the user makes a preset gesture (such as waving) or utters a preset voice command (such as "stop"). If any interruption command is detected, the announcement immediately stops and the system is ready to respond. The system adjusts the announcement speed, volume, and even dialect based on the user's historical usage data and identity tags (such as elderly mode). User feedback is collected after the announcement to continuously optimize subsequent announcements, enabling the device to accurately distinguish between real users and avoid false triggers. Users can obtain information and interrupt the announcement at any time without any manual operation. The announcement method is adaptive to different users (such as elderly people speaking slowly or using dialects), thus solving the problems of traditional solutions that rely on manual touch control, are prone to false triggers, cannot interrupt announcements, and have unfriendly interactions, thereby improving interaction efficiency and user experience.

[0169] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an electric water heater provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 3 As shown, the electric water heater provided in this embodiment includes: a human body sensing sensor, a gesture recognition device, a voice collector, a voice broadcaster, and a controller;

[0170] Human body perception sensors are used to detect whether a user has entered a preset interaction area.

[0171] In this embodiment, the human body perception sensor includes at least an infrared sensor and a millimeter-wave radar. The infrared sensor is a passive pyroelectric infrared sensor with extremely low power consumption, used to continuously monitor for the presence of heat sources within the interaction area; the millimeter-wave radar is a frequency-modulated continuous wave radar, used to further detect the target's motion vector information (velocity, direction, trajectory continuity) and target height after the infrared sensor detects a heat source. The two work together to achieve accurate identification of real users.

[0172] A gesture recognition device is used to recognize preset gestures performed by a user.

[0173] In this embodiment, the gesture recognition device employs a depth camera. This camera emits infrared pulses and measures the reflection time to collect the three-dimensional spatial coordinates and movement trajectory of the user's hand in real time. The gesture recognition device is electrically connected to the controller and sends the collected three-dimensional motion data to the controller for gesture matching.

[0174] A voice capture device is used to collect preset voice commands issued by users.

[0175] In this embodiment, the voice acquisition device uses a microphone, which can directionally amplify sound from the direction where the user is standing in front of the electric water heater using beamforming technology, while suppressing side and rear noise. The voice acquisition device sends the acquired multi-channel audio signals to the controller for voice recognition.

[0176] A voice broadcaster is used to output current operating status information.

[0177] In this embodiment, the voice broadcaster includes a voice synthesis module, a power amplifier circuit, and a speaker. The voice synthesis module is responsible for converting text information into digital audio signals, the power amplifier circuit amplifies the audio signals, and the speaker converts the electrical signals into sound waves for output. The speaker is typically installed on the front panel of the electric water heater, facing the area where the user stands.

[0178] The controller is connected to a human body sensor, a gesture recognition device, a voice collector, and a voice broadcaster. The controller is configured to execute the active voice interaction control method of any of the above electric water heaters.

[0179] The controller, as the core of the electric water heater's control system, can be a microcontroller, digital signal processor, or embedded processor. It integrates or has external non-volatile memory to store user history data, identification tags, preset gesture templates, a preset voice command keyword library, and a broadcast strategy mapping table. The controller connects to the aforementioned sensors and actuators via general-purpose input / output interfaces, serial peripheral interfaces, or controller area networks to receive sensor data, run algorithm models, and output control commands.

[0180] One possible implementation involves the controller keeping only the infrared sensor active in standby mode. When the infrared sensor detects a heat source within the interaction area, the controller activates the millimeter-wave radar. The millimeter-wave radar collects information on the target's speed, trajectory continuity, and height. The controller determines whether the target meets preset motion characteristics (speed below a threshold, trajectory continuity) and height greater than a preset height threshold. If so, it confirms that the user has entered the preset interaction area. The controller then reads the current operating status information (water temperature, mode, etc.), determines the broadcast strategy (speech rate, volume, dialect) based on the user's identity tag, and controls the voice broadcaster to output the broadcast content.

[0181] During the broadcast, a gesture recognition device and a voice collector are activated simultaneously to detect whether the user makes a waving gesture or says an interrupt command such as "stop." If detected, the broadcast is immediately terminated, and personalized broadcast content (such as energy-saving suggestions) is generated based on the user's historical usage data, and then broadcast again according to the strategy corresponding to the user's identity tag.

[0182] After the broadcast ends, a feedback window opens, and the user's verbal feedback (such as "okay" or "no need") is collected via a voice acquisition device. The user's identity tag and broadcast strategy parameters are updated based on the feedback. This achieves proactive sensing and seamless start-up of the electric water heater, allowing the user to obtain operating status information without manually touching or waking up the device, thus improving interaction efficiency and user experience.

[0183] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an active voice interaction control device for an electric water heater provided in this application. Figure 4 As shown, this application provides an active voice interaction control device for an electric water heater. The active voice interaction control device 300 for the electric water heater includes:

[0184] Processing module 301 is used to respond to the detection that a user has entered a preset interactive area by broadcasting the current running status information via voice.

[0185] The processing module 301 is also used to identify whether the user executes a preset interrupt command during the process of broadcasting the current running status information;

[0186] The processing module 301 is also used to control the electric water heater to terminate the current voice broadcast and enter the standby state when a preset interrupt command is detected.

[0187] Optionally, the device may also include: a determining module 302;

[0188] The processing module 301 is also used to detect whether there is a heat source in the interaction area by using an infrared sensor;

[0189] The processing module 301 is also used to detect the motion vector information and height of the heat source by millimeter-wave radar after the heat source is detected;

[0190] The determination module 302 is used to confirm that the user has entered the preset interaction area when the motion vector information matches the preset motion characteristics and the height is greater than the preset height threshold. The preset motion characteristics include: the motion speed is lower than the preset speed threshold and the motion trajectory is continuous.

[0191] Optionally, the processing module 301 is also used to detect whether the user executes a preset gesture command;

[0192] The processing module 301 is also used to detect whether the user issues a preset voice command;

[0193] The determining module 302 is also used to determine that a preset interrupt command has been detected when a preset gesture command and / or a preset voice command is detected.

[0194] Optionally, the processing module 301 is also used to generate voice broadcast content based on the user's historical usage data;

[0195] The determination module 302 is also used to determine the voice broadcast strategy based on the user's identity tag. The broadcast strategy includes at least one of the following: normal broadcast, slow speech broadcast, high volume broadcast, and dialect broadcast.

[0196] The processing module 301 is also used to broadcast the current running status information according to the voice broadcast strategy.

[0197] Optionally, the device may also include: an acquisition module 303;

[0198] The acquisition module 303 is used to acquire user feedback information on the broadcast content;

[0199] The processing module 301 is also used to update the user's identity tag based on the feedback information in order to adjust the generation strategy of subsequent broadcast content.

[0200] Optionally, the acquisition module 303 is also used to acquire the current ambient temperature, real-time electricity price, and the user's historical preferred water usage time periods;

[0201] The processing module 301 is also used to generate energy-saving suggestion information based on ambient temperature, real-time electricity price and historical preferred water usage periods;

[0202] The processing module 301 is also used for voice broadcasting energy-saving suggestions.

[0203] The active voice interaction control device for electric water heaters provided in this application embodiment has a similar implementation principle and technical effect to the implementation of each part of the aforementioned active voice interaction control method for electric water heaters, and will not be described again here.

[0204] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an electronic device provided in this application. Figure 5 As shown, the electronic device 400 includes: a receiver 401, a transmitter 402, a processor 403, and a memory 404.

[0205] Receiver 401 is used to receive instructions and data;

[0206] Transmitter 402 is used to send commands and data;

[0207] Memory 404 is used to store instructions executed by the computer;

[0208] The processor 403 is used to execute computer execution instructions stored in the memory 404 to implement the various steps of the solar water heater control method in the above embodiments. For details, please refer to the relevant descriptions in the foregoing embodiments of the solar water heater control method.

[0209] Optionally, the memory 404 can be either standalone or integrated with the processor 403.

[0210] When the memory 404 is set up independently, the electronic device also includes a bus for connecting the memory 404 and the processor 403.

[0211] The implementation principle and technical effects of the electronic device provided in this embodiment can be found in the foregoing embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0212] This application also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions, which, when executed by a processor, implement the method of any of the foregoing embodiments.

[0213] This application also provides a computer program product, including a computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements the method of any of the foregoing embodiments.

[0214] It should be noted that, for the sake of simplicity, the foregoing method embodiments are all described as a series of actions. However, those skilled in the art should understand that this application is not limited to the described order of actions, as some steps may be performed in other orders or simultaneously according to this application. Furthermore, those skilled in the art should also understand that the embodiments described in the specification are all optional embodiments, and the actions and modules involved are not necessarily essential to this application.

[0215] It should be further noted that although the steps in the flowchart are shown sequentially according to the arrows, these steps are not necessarily executed in the order indicated by the arrows. Unless explicitly stated herein, there is no strict order restriction on the execution of these steps, and they can be executed in other orders. Moreover, at least some steps in the flowchart may include multiple sub-steps or multiple stages. These sub-steps or stages are not necessarily completed at the same time, but can be executed at different times. The execution order of these sub-steps or stages is not necessarily sequential, but can be performed alternately or in turn with other steps or at least some of the sub-steps or stages of other steps.

[0216] It should be understood that the above-described device embodiments are merely illustrative, and the device of this application can also be implemented in other ways. For example, the division of units / modules in the above embodiments is only a logical functional division, and there may be other division methods in actual implementation. For example, multiple units, modules, or components may be combined, or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed.

[0217] Furthermore, unless otherwise specified, the functional units / modules in the various embodiments of this application can be integrated into one unit / module, or each unit / module can exist physically separately, or two or more units / modules can be integrated together. The integrated units / modules described above can be implemented in hardware or as software program modules.

[0218] In the above embodiments, the descriptions of each embodiment have their own emphasis. For parts not described in detail in a certain embodiment, please refer to the relevant descriptions of other embodiments. The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined arbitrarily. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as the combination of these technical features does not contradict each other, it should be considered within the scope of this specification.

[0219] Other embodiments of this application will readily occur to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. This application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of this application that follow the general principles of this application and include common knowledge or customary techniques in the art not disclosed herein. The specification and examples are to be considered exemplary only, and the true scope and spirit of this application are indicated by the following claims.

[0220] It should be understood that this application is not limited to the precise structure described above and shown in the accompanying drawings, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from its scope. The scope of this application is limited only by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method for active voice interaction control of an electric water heater, characterized in that, include: In response to detecting that a user has entered a preset interaction area, the system will announce the current operating status information via voice. During the process of broadcasting the current operating status information, it is identified whether the user executes a preset interrupt command; When the preset interrupt command is detected, the electric water heater is controlled to terminate the current voice broadcast and enter standby mode.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The detection of a user entering a preset interaction area includes: The presence of a heat source within the interaction area is detected using an infrared sensor. After detecting the heat source, the motion vector information and height of the heat source are detected by millimeter-wave radar; When the motion vector information matches the preset motion characteristics and the height is greater than the preset height threshold, the user is confirmed to have entered the preset interaction area. The preset motion characteristics include: the motion speed is lower than the preset speed threshold and the motion trajectory is continuous.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The preset interruption command includes: a preset gesture command and / or a preset voice command. Identifying whether the user executes the preset interruption command includes: Detect whether the user executes the preset gesture command; Detect whether the user has issued the preset voice command; When the preset gesture command and / or the preset voice command are detected, it is determined that the preset interrupt command has been detected.

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The voice broadcast of the current operating status information includes: The voice broadcast content is generated based on the user's historical usage data; Based on the user's identity tag, a voice broadcast strategy is determined, and the broadcast strategy includes at least one of the following: normal broadcast, slow speech broadcast, high volume broadcast, and dialect broadcast; The current operating status information is broadcast according to the aforementioned voice broadcasting strategy.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that, After broadcasting the current running status information according to the voice broadcasting strategy, the method further includes: Obtain user feedback on the broadcast content; The user's identity tag is updated based on the feedback information to adjust the generation strategy for subsequent broadcast content.

6. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that, The generation of voice broadcast content based on the user's historical usage data includes: Obtain current ambient temperature, real-time electricity price, and users' historical preferred water usage times; Based on the ambient temperature, the real-time electricity price, and the historical preferred water usage periods, energy-saving suggestion information is generated; The energy-saving recommendations will be read aloud.

7. An electric water heater, characterized in that, include: Human body sensing sensors, gesture recognition devices, voice acquisition devices, voice broadcasters, and controllers; The human body perception sensor is used to detect whether the user has entered the preset interaction area; The gesture recognition device is used to recognize preset gestures performed by the user; The voice collector is used to collect preset voice commands issued by the user; The voice broadcaster is used to output current operating status information; The controller is communicatively connected to the human body sensing sensor, the gesture recognition device, the voice collector, and the voice broadcaster, and is configured to execute the active voice interaction control method for an electric water heater as described in any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. An active voice interaction control device for an electric water heater, characterized in that, The device includes: The processing module is used to respond to the detection that a user has entered a preset interactive area and to announce the current running status information via voice. The processing module is also used to identify whether the user executes a preset interrupt command during the process of broadcasting the current running status information; The processing module is also used to control the electric water heater to terminate the current voice broadcast and enter a standby state when the preset interrupt command is detected.

9. An electronic device, characterized in that, include: A processor, and a memory communicatively connected to the processor; The memory stores computer-executed instructions; The processor executes computer execution instructions stored in the memory to implement the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 6.

10. A computer program product, characterized in that, Includes a computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements the method of any one of claims 1 to 6.

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