Intelligent closestool with foot sensing function

Abstract

The utility model relates to the technical field of intelligent bathroom accessories, in particular to an intelligent closestool with a foot sensing function, which comprises closestool ceramic, a main control board for controlling the intelligent closestool and a touch sensor, the touch sensor comprises a passive flexible sensing patch arranged at the front end of the inner wall of the closestool ceramic, a signal balance transmission line wired along the inner wall of the closestool ceramic, and a signal processing circuit arranged at the rear end of the closestool ceramic or exposed out of the closestool ceramic; the passive flexible induction patch is of a sandwich structure and comprises a flexible conductive material located on the inner layer and flexible insulating materials located on the surface layers of the two sides. The signal balance transmission line is of a double-row lead structure, the first end of the first lead extends into the flexible induction patch and is electrically connected with the flexible conductive material, and the first end of the second lead is isolated from the flexible conductive material; the second end of the first lead is electrically connected with the signal processing circuit after being provided with a matching adjusting capacitor, and the second end of the second lead is electrically connected with the signal processing circuit after being provided with a matching adjusting capacitor; the signal processing circuit is provided with an MCU chip with a touch detection function, a power supply wire and a control signal output wire, and the control signal output wire is electrically connected with the main control board. According to the intelligent closestool with the foot sensing function, the problems that a touch sensing type sensor is difficult to maintain and is difficult to fit with the ceramic inner wall can be solved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of smart bathroom technology, and in particular to a smart toilet with foot sensor. Background Technology

[0002] Foot-operated controls are widely used in smart toilets.

[0003] In recent years, non-perforated (ceramic-penetrating) sensors have been widely used because they do not affect the appearance of the ceramic. Common non-perforated sensors include touch-sensitive sensors. However, touch-sensitive sensors currently on the market generally have the following problems: 1. The sensor integrates components for signal detection, processing, and power supply, forming a relatively complex PCBA structure. Once a fault occurs, the entire sensor needs to be replaced, resulting in high after-sales service costs. In addition, because the change in value generated by the touch electrode during the touch process is extremely weak, it is very susceptible to interference. Therefore, the touch electrode and touch chip of current touch sensors are required to be placed close together. This means that the touch electrode, circuit, and touch chip of the touch sensor must be installed at a relatively forward position on the inner wall of the ceramic of the smart toilet. This indirectly leads to the need to remove the smart toilet first to reach the touch sensor deep inside the ceramic wall when the touch sensor malfunctions. Disassembling and reassembling the smart toilet further increases after-sales service costs. 2. Existing sensors are encapsulated in a rigid housing, making it difficult for the sensing surface to fit snugly against the curved inner wall of a ceramic substrate. This results in bonding difficulties and a risk of detachment and failure after prolonged use.

[0004] Therefore, it is necessary to make improvements to address the problems existing in the current technology. Utility Model Content

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a smart toilet with foot-sensing technology, which aims to solve the problems of difficult maintenance and difficulty in fitting the touch-sensitive sensor to the ceramic inner wall in the prior art.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, this utility model provides a smart toilet with foot-sensing technology, including a toilet ceramic and a main control board for controlling the smart toilet. It also includes a touch sensor, which comprises a passive flexible sensing patch disposed at the front end of the inner wall of the toilet ceramic, a signal balancing transmission line running along the inner wall of the toilet ceramic, and a signal processing circuit disposed at the rear end of the toilet ceramic or exposed outside the toilet ceramic. The passive flexible sensing patch has a sandwich structure, comprising a flexible conductive material in the inner layer and flexible insulating materials on both outer layers. The signal balancing transmission line has a double-row lead structure; the first end of the first lead extends into the passive flexible sensing patch and is electrically connected to the flexible conductive material, while the first end of the second lead is isolated from the flexible conductive material. The second end of the first lead is provided with a matching adjustment capacitor and is electrically connected to the signal processing circuit; the second end of the second lead is also provided with a matching adjustment capacitor and is electrically connected to the signal processing circuit. The signal processing circuit includes an MCU chip with touch detection function, power supply wiring, and control signal output wiring, with the control signal output wiring electrically connected to the main control board.

[0007] Furthermore, the total length of the signal balanced transmission line is 800mm-1400mm.

[0008] Furthermore, the signal balanced transmission line is divided into two segments, which are connected by lead wire mating terminals so that the signal processing circuit can be disconnected from the passive flexible sensing patch. The first segment of the signal balanced transmission line is connected to the passive flexible sensing patch and has a length of 300mm-800mm. The second segment of the signal balanced transmission line is connected to the signal processing circuit and has a length of 300mm-600mm.

[0009] Furthermore, the flexible conductive material is a flexible PCB or a conductive metal sheet with a sheet resistance of less than 100Ω; the flexible insulating material is a rubber material or a polymer material with a thickness that meets the insulation voltage requirement of greater than 1500V.

[0010] Furthermore, the passive flexible sensing patch is composited using high-frequency heating or integral injection molding. The bottom surface of the passive flexible sensing patch is covered with adhesive, the signal processing circuit is encapsulated inside the plastic shell, and the power supply wiring and control signal output wiring are exposed.

[0011] Furthermore, the angle between the passive flexible sensing patch and the ground is 0°-30°.

[0012] Furthermore, the distributed capacitance between the two leads is <100pF, and the matching adjustment capacitor ensures that the error of the distributed capacitance value to ground of the two signal input terminals of the MCU chip is between 0% and 20%; the MCU chip is a touch chip that meets the 10V dynamic test requirements.

[0013] Furthermore, the two outer layers of the passive flexible sensing patch are made of soft plastic sheets with a hardness of 30A-60A, a thickness of 0.2mm-0.8mm, a length of 60mm-100mm, and a width of 20mm-40mm. The inner layer is made of conductive metal sheets with a thickness of 0.1mm-0.2mm, a length of 30mm-50mm, and a width of 10mm-20mm. The conductive metal sheets are soldered to the first end of the first lead, and the first end of the second lead is wrapped by the two outer layers.

[0014] This invention provides a smart toilet with foot-sensing technology. Compared to existing technologies, its touch sensor uses a passive flexible sensor patch. This passive flexible sensor patch eliminates the need for a power supply or numerous components, greatly simplifying the structure of the sensing component that collects operation signals and significantly reducing the probability of malfunction during use. Furthermore, it separates the signal processing circuit from the passive flexible sensor patch. The signal sensed by the patch is transmitted to the signal processing circuit via a balanced signal transmission line. Compared to traditional wiring structures, this invention achieves long-distance signal transmission, allowing the potentially faulty signal processing circuit to be placed further away from the patch and easily accessible to users. The less prone-to-failure passive flexible sensor patch is then embedded deep within the ceramic inner wall of the toilet bowl to meet sensing requirements. This also reduces the difficulty of repair should the signal processing circuit malfunction. Moreover, the passive flexible sensor patch can fit tightly against the curved surface of the ceramic inner wall of the toilet, preventing it from falling off and improving the accuracy of the sensing. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 This is a structural schematic diagram of the smart toilet with foot sensor according to this utility model;

[0016] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the touch sensor structure;

[0017] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram showing the connection between the touch sensor and the toilet ceramic.

[0018] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0019] 1. Passive flexible sensing patch; 11. Flexible conductive material; 12. Flexible insulating material;

[0020] 2. Balanced signal transmission line; 21. First lead; 22. Second lead; 23. Lead mating terminal;

[0021] 3. Matching and adjusting capacitors;

[0022] 4. Signal processing circuit; 41. MCU chip; 42. Power supply wiring; 43. Control signal output wiring;

[0023] 5. Smart toilet; 51. Toilet ceramic. Detailed Implementation

[0024] The embodiments of this utility model are described in detail below.

[0025] In this embodiment, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, terms such as "set in," "connected," and "linked" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a direct connection or a connection through one or more intermediate media. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of these terms in this embodiment based on the specific circumstances. The directional terms appearing in this embodiment are for the purpose of better describing the characteristics of the features and the relationships between them. It should be understood that when the placement direction of this embodiment changes, the direction of the characteristics of the features and the relationships between them also changes accordingly. Therefore, directional terms do not constitute an absolute limitation on the characteristics of the features and the relationships between them in space, but only a relative limitation.

[0026] This utility model provides a smart toilet with foot sensor, such as... Figures 1 to 3 As shown, it includes a toilet ceramic 51 and a main control board for controlling the smart toilet 5. It also includes a touch sensor, which comprises a passive flexible sensing patch 1 disposed at the front end of the inner wall of the toilet ceramic 51, a signal balanced transmission line 2 running along the inner wall of the toilet ceramic 51, and a signal processing circuit 4 disposed at the rear end of the toilet ceramic 51 or exposed outside the toilet ceramic 51. The passive flexible sensing patch 1 has a sandwich structure, comprising a flexible conductive material 11 in the inner layer and flexible insulating materials 12 on both outer layers. The signal balanced transmission line 2 has a double-row lead structure, the first... The first end of the first lead 21 extends into the passive flexible sensing patch 1 and is electrically connected to the flexible conductive material 11. The first end of the second lead 22 is isolated from the flexible conductive material 11. The second end of the first lead 21 is provided with a matching adjustment capacitor 3 and is electrically connected to the signal processing circuit 4. The second end of the second lead 22 is provided with a matching adjustment capacitor 3 and is electrically connected to the signal processing circuit 4. The signal processing circuit 4 is provided with an MCU chip 41 with touch detection function, a power supply connection 42 and a control signal output connection 43. The control signal output connection 43 is electrically connected to the main control board.

[0027] Based on the above structural design, the touch sensor of this smart toilet with foot sensing uses a passive flexible sensing patch 1. The passive flexible sensing patch 1 does not have a power supply or numerous components, greatly simplifying the structure of the sensing component that collects operation signals, making the probability of failure of the passive flexible sensing patch 1 extremely low during future use. Simultaneously, it separates the signal processing circuit 4 from the passive flexible sensing patch 1. The signal sensed by the passive flexible sensing patch 1 is transmitted to the signal processing circuit 4 via a signal balancing transmission line 2 to achieve sensing. Compared to traditional wiring structures, this invention achieves long-distance transmission of the sensing signal, allowing the signal processing circuit 4, which is prone to failure, to be placed at a distance from the passive flexible sensing patch 1 and in a location easily accessible to staff. The less prone-to-failure passive flexible sensing patch 1 is attached deep into the inner wall of the toilet ceramic 51 to meet sensing requirements; when the signal processing circuit 4 malfunctions, the repair difficulty is lower. Moreover, the passive flexible sensor patch 1 can fit tightly against the curved surface of the inner wall of the toilet ceramic 51, preventing it from falling off and improving the accuracy of the sensing.

[0028] In this embodiment, the total length of the signal balanced transmission line 2 is 800mm-1400mm. This length is suitable for the specifications of commonly available smart toilets 5.

[0029] In this embodiment, the signal balancing transmission line 2 is divided into two segments, which are connected by a lead wire connector 23, so that the signal processing circuit 4 can be disconnected from the passive flexible sensing patch 1. The first segment of the signal balancing transmission line 2 is connected to the passive flexible sensing patch 1, and its length is 300mm-800mm; the second segment of the signal balancing transmission line 2 is connected to the signal processing circuit 4, and its length is 300mm-600mm. This length setting allows the passive flexible sensing patch 1 to be placed at the front end of the inner wall of the toilet ceramic 51, while the lead wire connector 23 is close to or located at the rear end of the inner wall of the toilet ceramic 51, making it convenient for operators to install and remove the lead wire connector 23.

[0030] In this embodiment, the flexible conductive material 11 is a flexible PCB or a conductive metal sheet with a sheet resistance of less than 100Ω; when a conductive metal sheet is used, copper foil is preferred. The flexible insulating material 12 is a rubber material or a polymer material; when an insulating rubber material is used, silicone rubber or EPDM rubber is preferred; when a polymer material is used, PE, PP, or PVC is preferred, and its thickness meets the requirement of an insulation voltage greater than 1500V.

[0031] In this embodiment, the passive flexible sensor patch 1 is composited using high-frequency heating or integral injection molding. The bottom surface of the passive flexible sensor patch 1 is coated with adhesive, and the signal processing circuit 4 is encapsulated inside the plastic housing. The power supply wiring 42 and control signal output wiring 43 are exposed. This structural design ensures a high degree of sealing and a long service life for the passive flexible sensor patch 1. It also provides good integrity and a high degree of sealing for the signal processing circuit 4, making it less susceptible to moisture damage. The passive flexible sensor patch 1 can be easily attached to the toilet ceramic 51 using the adhesive on its bottom surface, facilitating production.

[0032] In this embodiment, the angle between the passive flexible sensing patch 1 and the ground is 0°-30°. Testing has shown that this angle range can improve the sensitivity, stability, and interactive experience of the touch sensor.

[0033] In this embodiment, the distributed capacitance between the two leads is <100pF. The coupling capacitance between the two leads can cause crosstalk and reduce the signal-to-noise ratio, so the coupling capacitance between the two leads needs to be controlled. More preferably, the distributed capacitance between the two leads is controlled to <50pF. The matching capacitor 3 ensures that the error in the distributed capacitance to ground of the two signal input terminals of the MCU chip 41 is between 0% and 20%. The matching capacitor 33 adjusts the transmission impedance of the signal balancing transmission line 22 to be close, ensuring consistent signal attenuation for detection and transmission to the signal processing circuit 44, thus improving signal processing resolution. More preferably, the error in the distributed capacitance to ground of the two input terminals of the MCU chip 41 is <5%. MCU chip 41 is a touch chip that meets the 10V dynamic test requirements; the conducted disturbance immunity (CS value, Induced by Radio-Frequency Fields) of radio frequency field sensing is an important indicator for measuring the anti-interference capability of touch detection circuit. For smart toilet 5 usage scenarios that include strong interference sources such as motion servo mechanisms (lid flip, ring flip, spray bar extension), high-power heating, and pulse solenoid valves, meeting the CS value is an important choice to ensure reliable touch and error-free triggering.

[0034] More preferably, the two outer surfaces of the passive flexible sensing patch 1 are made of soft plastic sheets with a hardness of 30A-60A, a thickness of 0.2mm-0.8mm, a length of 60mm-100mm, and a width of 20mm-40mm, and the inner layer is made of conductive metal sheets with a thickness of 0.1mm-0.2mm, a length of 30mm-50mm, and a width of 10mm-20mm. The conductive metal sheets are soldered to the first end of the first lead 21, and the first end of the second lead 22 is wrapped by the two outer surfaces.

[0035] In summary, this type of smart toilet with foot sensor can solve the problems of difficult maintenance and difficulty in fitting the inner wall of touch sensor.

[0036] Where there is no conflict, the above embodiments and features can be combined with each other.

[0037] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the preferred technical solutions of this utility model, and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this utility model. Although this utility model has been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications or equivalent substitutions can be made to the technical solutions of this utility model without departing from the essence and scope of this utility model.

Claims

1. A smart toilet with foot-sensing induction, comprising a toilet bowl (51) and a main control board for controlling the smart toilet (5), characterized in that: The touch sensor comprises a passive flexible sensing patch (1) arranged at the front end of the inner wall of the toilet ceramic (51), a signal balanced transmission line (2) wired along the inner wall of the toilet ceramic (51), and a signal processing circuit (4) arranged at the rear end of the toilet ceramic (51) or exposed outside the toilet ceramic (51); The passive flexible sensing patch (1) has a sandwich structure, comprising a flexible conductive material (11) at the inner layer and flexible insulating materials (12) at the two side layers; The signal balanced transmission line (2) has a double-row lead structure, the first end of the first lead (21) extends into the passive flexible sensing patch (1) and is electrically connected with the flexible conductive material (11), and the first end of the second lead (22) is isolated from the flexible conductive material (11); the second end of the first lead (21) is electrically connected with the signal processing circuit (4) after being provided with a matching adjustment capacitor (3), and the second end of the second lead (22) is electrically connected with the signal processing circuit (4) after being provided with a matching adjustment capacitor (3); The signal processing circuit (4) is provided with an MCU chip (41) with a touch detection function, a power supply wire (42), and a control signal output wire (43), and the control signal output wire (43) is electrically connected with a main control board.

2. The smart toilet with foot-sensing according to claim 1, wherein: The total length of the signal balanced transmission line (2) is 800mm-1400mm.

3. The smart toilet with foot-sensing according to claim 2, wherein: The signal balanced transmission line (2) is divided into two sections, and the two sections are connected by means of a lead butt joint terminal (23) to enable the signal processing circuit (4) to be disconnected from the passive flexible sensing patch (1); the first section of the signal balanced transmission line (2) is connected to the passive flexible sensing patch (1) and has a length of 300mm-800mm; the second section of the signal balanced transmission line (2) is connected to the signal processing circuit (4) and has a length of 300mm-600mm.

4. The smart toilet with foot-sensing according to claim 1, wherein: The flexible conductive material (11) is a flexible PCB or a conductive metal sheet, and the square resistance is less than 100Ω; the flexible insulating material (12) is a rubber material or a high polymer material, and the thickness satisfies the insulation voltage of more than 1500V.

5. The smart toilet with foot-sensing according to claim 1, wherein: The passive flexible sensing patch (1) is compounded by means of high-frequency heating or integral injection molding, the bottom surface of the passive flexible sensing patch (1) is pasted with adhesive, the signal processing circuit (4) is filled in the inside of a plastic shell, and the power supply wire (42) and the control signal output wire (43) are exposed.

6. The smart toilet with foot-sensing according to claim 1, wherein: The included angle between the passive flexible sensing patch (1) and the ground is 0°-30°.

7. The smart toilet with foot-sensing according to claim 1, wherein: The distributed capacitance between the two leads is less than 100PF, the matching adjustment capacitor (3) makes the error of the ground distributed capacitance values of the two signal input ends of the MCU chip (41) between 0%-20%, and the MCU chip (41) is a touch chip satisfying the 10V dynamic test requirement.

8. The smart toilet with foot-sensing according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The flexible passive sensing patch (1) is provided with soft plastic sheets with a hardness of 30A-60A, a thickness of 0.2mm-0.8mm, a length of 60mm-100mm and a width of 20mm-40mm on both sides, and an inner layer of conductive metal sheets with a thickness of 0.1mm-0.2mm, a length of 30mm-50mm and a width of 10mm-20mm, the conductive metal sheets being welded to the first end of the first lead wire (21), and the first end of the second lead wire (22) being wrapped by the sheets on both sides.

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