Radar device for toilets

Abstract

The invention relates in particular to a radar device (100) comprising a housing (200), suitable for being positioned on the inner wall of a toilet bowl (106) and comprising a radar sensor (202), housed in the housing (200), and suitable for emitting radar waves towards the opening of the toilet bowl. The invention also relates to associated methods. Abstract figure: Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Radar device for toilets

[0001] The present description relates to devices and methods for identifying a toilet user. Such identification finds application in particular in the context of urine analysis tests, where it may be desired to be able to identify the person who urinated in order to attribute the results of the urine analysis to the correct person, or to trigger a urine analysis measurement.

[0002] Urine analysis is now mainly carried out in a specialized laboratory or at home in a fairly rudimentary way. In both cases, the active intervention of a person is required, whether it be a laboratory technician or the user himself, in order to carry out the urine collection: the identification of the user does not pose any technical difficulty.

[0003] The present description also relates to the analysis of a urine stream by non-invasive methods. State of the art

[0004] Technical developments are making automated testing at home possible. By automated, it is meant that user actions are reduced to a minimum. For example, documents WO2021 / 175909, WO2021 / 175944 and FR2101762 describe an autonomous urine device to be positioned in the toilet at the user's home. One of the problems related to this type of device, which automatically collects urine and analyzes it, is the attribution of the measurement to a specific user urinating among a plurality of potential users. There is therefore a need to be able to identify the user. The aforementioned documents describe some avenues, such as interaction with a button or Bluetooth recognition. The document “A mountable toilet System for personalized health monitoring via the analysis of excreta”, Park et al, in Nature Biomedical engineering (DOI: 10.1038 / s41551-020-0562-5), offers several means, such as a fingerprint or anal print identification module.

[0005] These existing techniques have disadvantages: need to have your phone, need to install a button, hygiene, invasion of privacy, necessary interaction, etc.

[0006] It is desirable to benefit from an identification system which does not have the aforementioned drawbacks. Summary of the invention

[0007] The present description aims to propose a method and the associated devices or systems not presenting at least one of the aforementioned difficulties. More specifically, This description proposes to use radar to identify a toilet user. In particular, urine analyses may be part of gender-based analyses, in the sense that the indifferent analysis of the urine of a man or a woman is not necessarily relevant. Therefore, identification may, within the scope of the description, mean identifying the sex of the user.

[0008] The invention is defined in the claims.

[0009] In one embodiment, the description presents a measurement method relating to a urine stream of a user during urination, the measurement method using a radar sensor and comprising at least the following steps: the emission by the radar sensor of at least one radar signal, in the direction of the urine stream, the reception by the radar sensor of a reflected radar signal, the received radar signal comprising reflections of the emitted signal, the reflections being caused by at least the stream of urine, processing the received radar signal to determine at least one property relating to the urine stream.

[0010] In particular, the radar sensor is installed in the toilet, on a wall of a bowl.

[0011] The property relating to the urine stream may comprise at least one distance of interest between the radar sensor and the urine stream, for example the distance between the origin of the urine stream and the radar sensor.

[0012] In one embodiment, said distance of interest is obtained by: - the identification of a radial velocity of interest linked to the maximum radial velocity (Vmax) of a urine front, - obtaining the radial distance (Rmax) corresponding to this speed of interest, said radial distance (Rmax) corresponding to the distance of interest.

[0013] In one embodiment, the property relating to the urine stream comprises a dispersion level (NPix) of the urine stream. In particular, said dispersion level is obtained by calculating a reflection level of the reflected radar signals.

[0014] In one embodiment, the property of the urine stream comprises at least one velocity of interest of a urine front. The velocity of interest of the urine stream may comprise the maximum measured velocity (Vmax) of the urine stream.

[0015] The measurement method may further comprise assigning the urine stream to a user profile from among a plurality of user profiles using the at least one property of the urine stream. The assignment may comprise an assignment between a user profile associated with a male and a user profile associated with a female.

[0016] In one embodiment, the classification is done using the maximum measured velocity and the dispersion level and / or is done by combining several properties of the urine stream, including in particular the maximum measured velocity of the urine stream.

[0017] In one embodiment, the allocation is done by classification on the basis of at least one property relating to the urine stream and a classification function. The classification function can be obtained beforehand from a data set (in particular for training the classifier).

[0018] In one embodiment, the radar sensor operates by frame, each frame being generated by a plurality of chirps, and the transmission and reception steps being implemented for each chirp.

[0019] In particular, the radar sensor is a “Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave” (FMCW) radar sensor, or the radar signal is FMCW. The frequencies of the radar sensor can vary between 58 GHz and 63 GHz.

[0020] The signal processing may comprise a calculation of at least one “range-doppler” response, for example a “distance-doppler” map.

[0021] In one embodiment, the measuring method comprises a prior step, using a urine detector, of determining the presence of a urine stream.

[0022] The description also presents a radar device comprising a radar sensor capable of implementing a method as precisely described.

[0023] The description also presents a radar device comprising: - a housing, capable of being positioned on an internal wall of a toilet bowl, - a radar sensor, housed in the housing, and capable of emitting radar waves in the direction of the opening of the toilet bowl,

[0024] The radar sensor may be a “Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave” (FMCW) type radar sensor.

[0025] The radar device may comprise a urine detector capable of detecting a jet urine, the urine detector being configured to activate the radar sensor in response to detection of the urine stream.

[0026] The description also presents a urine analysis device, comprising: - a radar device as described above, - a collection port on the housing to receive urine, - a test set intended to analyze the urine received.

[0027] The radar device may comprise a battery for supplying energy to the radar sensor.

[0028] In particular, the housing may be waterproof.

[0029] Finally, the description presents a computer program comprising instructions capable of implementing a method as described previously when the instructions are executed by a processor. This computer program can be implemented by the radar device as described previously.

[0030] In particular, a strong constraint on identification is linked to the energy management of the urine analysis device into which the radar can be integrated: the radar sensor must be activated as little as possible. Therefore, sending prospective radar waves remains unlikely, since to detect standing or sitting movement, the radar sensor must be activated before the user appears in the radar's field of vision. To do this, either the radar sensor sends prospective radar waves, or the radar sensor is informed of the arrival of a user (but this solution further complicates implementation). The solution proposed here allows for optimized operation on a battery. Presentation of figures

[0031] The following figures help to facilitate understanding of the invention: - [Fig.l]: [Fig.l] schematically shows a sectional view of toilets equipped with a radar device according to an embodiment of the description, - [Fig.2]: [Fig.2] shows a more detailed view of a housing of a radar device associated with a urine analysis device, according to an embodiment of the description, - [Fig.3]: [Fig.3] schematically presents a view of the components of a radar device according to an embodiment of the description, as well as its ecosystem, - [Fig.4]: [Fig.4] schematically presents a more detailed view of a housing of a radar device associated with a urine analysis device, according to an embodiment of the description, - [Fig.5]: [Fig.5] presents several situations representing the origin of the urine jet and its direction, relative to the FoV of the radar sensor, - [Fig.6]: [Fig.6] shows two “distance-doppler” maps, for a man and a woman, according to an embodiment of the description, - [Fig.7]: [Fig.7] presents a three-dimensional representation of urine streams using three parameters relating to the urine stream, - [Fig.8]: [Fig.8] presents two-dimensional graphs representing the projections of [Fig.7], - [Fig.9]: [Fig.9] presents a diagram representing a measurement method according to an embodiment of the invention, - [Fig. 10]: [Fig. 10] presents a diagram representing a measuring method according to an embodiment of the invention, with prior detection of urine, - [Fig. 11]: [Fig. 11] shows a schematic view of the placement of the radar sensor in the box and / or in the toilet, and - [Fig. 12]: [Fig. 12] shows a schematic view of a urine analysis device incorporating the radar device, according to one embodiment of the description. Detailed description

[0032] [Fig.l] schematically illustrates a radar device 100 mounted on a toilet 102. In known manner, the toilet 102 comprises a water tank 104, a bowl 106, a seat 108 and a cover 110. The identification device 100 can be arranged on an internal wall 112 of the toilet bowl 106. Advantageously, the radar device 100 is entirely received in the toilet bowl, which allows it to be discreet.

[0033] In one embodiment, the radar device 100 can be positioned in the toilet so as to be in the path of a stream of urine secreted by a user during urination, in particular when a user urinates while sitting in the toilet. The position of the urine analysis device in the toilet is then suitable for any type of user, male or female, regardless of age. The user can then urinate in the toilet without worrying about the position of the urine analysis device.

[0034] The positioning of the radar device 100 also allows it to be positioned on the path of a flush coming from the tank 104. The identification device 100 can thus be rinsed when the flush is actuated.

[0035] A fastener may be provided to hold the radar device 100 on the internal wall of the bowl: suction cup, magnet (with support glued to the wall), hook reaching the edge of the bowl, etc.

[0036] The radar device 100 can communicate with a mobile terminal 114 (smartphone type) and / or an external server 116. In one embodiment, the radar device 100 communicates with the mobile terminal 114 (for example directly via Bluetooth such as Bluetooth Low Energy) and the mobile terminal 114 communicates with the server 116 (via a cellular or WiFi connection). In another embodiment, the radar device 100 can communicate directly with the server 116 via a cellular network.

[0037] With reference to [Fig. 2], the radar device 100 may comprise a housing 200 inside which a radar sensor 202 is positioned (shown schematically in dotted lines). The housing 200 is sized to be able to be positioned in the bowl 106 of the toilet 102. Due to its positioning in a region exposed to different liquids or solids, the housing 200 is waterproof. In one embodiment, the housing 200 comprises a collection orifice 204, capable of receiving urine flowing onto the housing 200. In this embodiment, the radar device 100 is part of a urine analysis device which notably comprises the housing 200. The housing 200 may comprise a front shell 206 and a rear shell 208, which can be assembled and disassembled to be able to access the interior of the housing 200.The urine analysis device has been described in documents WO2021 / 175909, WO2021 / 175944 (publication numbers), FR2109383, FR2109384, FR2109391, and FR2109392 (publication numbers). deposit).

[0038] [Fig. 3] represents, in a diagram 300, the components that the radar device 100 may comprise, and the general ecosystem. The radar device 100 comprises a control circuitry 302 with a processor 304, a memory 306 and an I / O (input / output) interface 308 configured to send and receive data from the control circuitry 302. A communication module 310 may be provided to exchange data with an external terminal (for example a smartphone). The communication module 310 may be a wireless module, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Emission, etc. The control circuitry 302 may in particular communicate with the radar sensor 202 to send acquisition instructions and receive radar data to be processed.

[0039] The radar device 100 may include a battery 312 that supplies power to the components.

[0040] The memory 306 can store instructions, which, when executed by the processor 304, implement the method(s) of the present description. The methods are preferably carried out locally, by the processor 304 of the radar device 100. This allows feedback to the user without the need for a connection, in particular with the external terminal (“smartphone”).

[0041] The radar device 100 can communicate, using the communication module 310 and using a communication network 314, with an external mobile terminal 316, of the mobile terminal type (“smartphone”). The mobile terminal 316 comprises control circuitry 318 with a processor 320, a memory 322 and an I / O interface 324 configured to send and receive data from the control circuitry 302. The external terminal 316 further comprises a user interface 326 for interacting with the user. The processor 320 and the memory 322 can implement an application that allows the external terminal 316 to communicate with the measurement device 100. The user interface 326 can in particular display information to the user.

[0042] The radar device 100 can also communicate with a server 328, either directly via the communication network 314 or via the external terminal 316. The server 328 includes control circuitry 330 with a processor 332, a memory 334 and an I / O interface 336 configured to send and receive data from the control circuitry 302. The server 328 can store the measurements made by the radar device 100 (cloud architecture). The server 328 can also perform data processing.

[0043] The communication network 314 can be heterogeneous: short-range wireless (Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, etc.), long-range wireless (cellular, etc.), wired (Ethernet, etc.).

[0044] [Fig.4] describes in more detail an example of radar sensor 202. Radar sensor 202 comprises a transmitter 402, a receiver 404 and control circuitry 406. The transmitter 402 comprises at least one transmission antenna Tx 408 and a wave generator 410. The receiver 404 comprises at least one reception antenna Rx 412. The control circuitry 406 comprises in particular a processor 414 and a memory 416, for controlling the transmitter 402 and processing the signals received by the receiver 404. The control circuitry 406 of the radar sensor 202 can be integrated or partially integrated into the control circuitry 302 of the radar device 100. We will hereinafter speak of “control circuitry 302, 406” to designate one and / or the other. The radar sensor 202 uses in particular the Doppler-Fizeau effect generated by a moving object to obtain in particular the speed of said object and / or the distance between said object and the radar sensor 202.The speed is called radial, because it is only the speed component projected on an axis connecting said object and the radar sensor 202. In the same way, we will speak of radial distance, because it is the distance along this axis.

[0045] The wave generator 410 and the Tx antenna generate electromagnetic waves, emitted in the direction of a field of view FoV (“Field of view”). These electromagnetic waves are partially reflected by the obstacles they encounter and create an echo which is received by the Rx antenna 404. The control circuitry 302, 406 processes the echoes to generate radar data. The control circuitry 302, 406 can convert the analog signals generated by the wave generator 310 and received by the Rx antenna into digital signals. Filters, amplifiers, etc. are typically provided in the radar sensor 202.

[0046] The radar sensor 202 may be compact, of the order of a few centimeters, or even less than 1 cm. For example, the radar sensor 202 may be contained in a cube of 1 cm x 1 cm x 1 cm.

[0047] The field of view FoV is typically a solid angle, which covers a volume of space from the radar sensor 202. The FoV is generally defined by two aperture angles. The axis of symmetry of each angle is called the radar axis.

[0048] With reference to [Fig. 5], the radar sensor 202 may be a frequency modulated continuous wave radar, called FMCW (“Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave”), which means that the radar sensor emits a frequency modulated signal (“chirp” according to the established terminology). In other words, during the pulse, of a duration T, the frequency of the emitted chirp varies over a range. Several modulations are possible: sawtooth modulation, triangular modulation, frequency shift keying, staircase modulation, etc. The radar sensor may be an ultra-wideband radar, called UWB (“Ultra Wide Band”), which may also be suitable. The UWB radar emits wave patterns of a few nanoseconds which are repeated. The study of the delays allows distances to be determined and the study of delay variations allows speeds to be determined.

[0049] The radar sensor 202 can emit a succession of chirps, the succession being called a “frame” (translatable as “window” in French but the English term is commonly used). In one embodiment, a frame comprises between 16 and 256 chirps, or even between 32 and 64 chirps (for example 128 chirps). More specifically, a frame can be broken down as follows: N.(PRT)=N.(t_chirp + t_pause), where the PRT is the pulse repetition time (“pulse repetition time”), where t_chirp is the time of a chirp, t_pause is the pause time before the next chirp and N is the number of chirps. The PRT can last between 300qs and 500qs. The pause can be 1000s. A frame can thus last a few milliseconds.

[0050] Frequency modulation makes it possible to create, after mixing the transmitted and received signals, filtering, etc., a signal, called an intermediate frequency signal ("Intermediate Frequency Signal"), the frequencies of which are proportional to the distance of the objects at the origin of the echoes. A Fourier transform applied to this intermediate frequency signal makes it possible to highlight the associated frequencies and distances. By analyzing the phase variations of the Fourier transforms on successive chirps, it is possible to highlight the Doppler frequencies, which are linked to the speed of the object. The radar sensor 202 can obtain, for each object, the speed and the distance.In particular, the radar sensor 202 can generate a “Range-Doppler” map, which represents the distance (in the abscissa figures, in m) and the speed of a moving object in the field of view FoV (in the ordinate figures, in m / s), as shown in [Fig. 6]. For each frame, a “Range-Doppler” map can be calculated.

[0051] In the framework of the frames, obtaining the “Distance-Doppler” map is done using FFT (“fast fourier transform”) and their evolution between successive chirps. The “Distance-Doppler” maps are known and will not be described in more detail.

[0052] Using chirps in particular, the radar sensor 202 can also calculate a distance between itself and a moving object.

[0053] A frame can last 100ms. Therefore, twenty successive frames take 2s. More generally, in the case of an FMCW radar, a chirp can last between 100 and 200 ms.

[0054] In the examples illustrated in the description, the radar sensor 202 is an Infineon BGT60TR13C FMCW radar whose frequency can vary between 58 GHz and 63.5 GHz during a chirp. This interval allows a bandwidth of more than 5 GHz which ensures sufficient precision for the use presented in the description. Other frequency values ​​can be used, in particular around the values described. This radar sensor includes three Rx antennas and one Tx antenna. In the example shown, the chirp includes a sawtooth frequency modulation.

[0055] To promote the quality of the signal and to better capture the reflections of the waves in the toilet, the radar device 100 is arranged in the bowl so that the field of view FoV of the radar sensor 202 is oriented in the direction of the opening of the bowl, which means that a user sitting on the seat 108 is in the radar coverage and in particular his posterior, his genitals and the exit orifice of the urethra, which is the origin of the user's urine jet.

[0056] Due to the anatomical differences between a man and a woman, the position of the origin of the urine stream is not the same when the user is seated on the seat 108. In addition, the urine stream is different between a man and a woman for various morphological reasons (shape of the urethra, pressure, flow rate, etc.).

[0057] In one embodiment, the radar device 100, by means of one or more frames, can make it possible to identify properties of the urine stream, these properties making it possible in particular to classify the urine stream as belonging to a given user. The classification of a user can be at least a classification by discrimination between man and woman. In a heterosexual bigamous household where the only users of the radar device 100 are the man and the woman, this anatomical discrimination based on sex makes it possible to identify the user of the radar device 100.

[0058] Due to anatomical differences between a man and a woman, variations in the placement of each radar device 100 and the shapes of toilet bowls, several situations can arise during seated urination. These situations are shown in [Fig. 5], which illustrate four configurations 500, 502, 504, 506 in two dimensions, with the radar sensor 202, the axis of the radar 508, the field of view FoV and the position of the origin (the circle) of the urine stream and the overall direction (the dotted arrow starting from the circle) of the urine stream.

[0059] In a first case 502, the origin of the urine jet is located in the field of view FoV of the radar sensor 202: in this case, the radar sensor 202 perceives direct reflections of high intensity as well as multiple reflections resulting from the rebounds of the waves on the bowl of lower speed and intensity.

[0060] In a second case 504, the origin of the urine jet is located outside the field of view FoV of the radar sensor 202: in this case, the radar sensor 202 no longer perceives direct reflections. The signal is then formed only from multiple reflections of low intensity and low speed at greater distances. In addition, due to the arrangement of the radar sensor 202, if the origin of the urine jet is outside the field of view FoV, this implies that the urine jet will probably be of shorter length.

[0061] In the first case 502, the distance between the origin of the jet and the radar device 100 can be determined to identify the user. In the second case 504, the level reflection can be determined to identify the user, as will be explained in more detail later. For anatomical reasons, the second case 504 usually occurs for men.

[0062] In one embodiment, the radar sensor 202 emits a chirp and receives a reflected signal. This reflected signal is then processed by a processor (either the control circuitry 406 of the radar sensor 202, or the control circuitry 302 of the radar device 100) to generate in particular, after emission of a plurality of chirps and reception of the reflected signals (i.e., an image), a “distance-Doppler” map. [Fig. 6] illustrates two “distance-Doppler” maps 602, 604: map 602 illustrates the results for a female user and map 604 illustrates the results for a male user. From these maps, several properties relating to the urine stream can be obtained: the radial distance, the radial velocity and a dispersion level.

[0063] A “distance-doppler” map can be generated from a single frame (i.e. calculated from a plurality of chirps).

[0064] As indicated previously, a “distance-Doppler” map represents the intensity of the reflected signal (which is linked to the number of moving objects) as a function of the radial distance between the moving object and the radar device 100 and as a function of the radial speed of this object. A negative speed represents an object that is moving away and a positive speed represents an object that is moving closer.

[0065] In the present description, the moving object is a urine front. By urine front, it is meant the air-urine interface of a volume of urine (for example a drop or a portion of a jet). A urine jet typically comprises a plurality of successive urine fronts. The map 602 thus illustrates radar signals which correspond to urine fronts at a distance greater than those observed on the map 604, which corresponds to an anatomical difference: the orifice of the urine jet in a woman sitting on the toilet will be further from the radar sensor 202 than the orifice of the urine jet in a man sitting on the toilet.

[0066] Map 602 also illustrates radar signals that correspond to urine fronts having a greater radial velocity, which again corresponds to an anatomical difference: the urine ejection velocity is greater in women, because of the longer male evacuation pathways which generate pressure losses. Map 602 illustrates radar signals that are more dispersed than those observed on map 604, which correspond to a plurality of objects (the urine stream and its reflections) that are more scattered: because of the greater distance in women than in men, because of the nature of the urethra, the probability of a stream hitting the bowl and being reflected is greater.

[0067] The control circuitry 302, 406 can extract these properties (radial distance, radial velocity and dispersion) using algorithms, in particular using analysis image and pixel counting.

[0068] Different information can be extracted from such maps. First, a single “distance-Doppler” map makes it possible to obtain a property relating to the urine stream, which means that in a single frame, the radar device 100 can distinguish the sex of the user urinating. Battery consumption is thus minimized.

[0069] Speed ​​and Vmax

[0070] An example of an algorithm consists of determining a speed of interest of the urine front. For example, this speed of interest is, or is linked to, the highest positive speed (i.e., the radial speed in the direction of the radar sensor 202) among the speeds of the urine fronts of the “distance-Doppler” map. This speed is called Vmax. This determination can be made directly on the “distance-Doppler” map, in particular by identifying the urine front (including low intensity) which has the highest radial speed. It is recalled that the “distance-Doppler” map already gives the radial speeds of the urine fronts.

[0071] Alternatively, an example algorithm is to identify an average measured velocity or other calculation from the velocity of the urine fronts.

[0072] The property relating to the urine jet is then a radial velocity of interest of urine fronts, such as a maximum measured velocity.

[0073] Radial distance and Rmax

[0074] An example algorithm consists of determining the maximum distance between the radar sensor 202 and all of the urine fronts. In this regard, the algorithm can identify the urine front with the highest positive velocity (i.e. the radial velocity in the direction of the radar sensor, called Vmax) and then recover the radial position of said urine front. This radial distance is called Rmax.

[0075] The urine front at the exit of the urethra, or nearby, is considered to be the fastest because the radial component is the most significant.

[0076] The property relating to the urine jet is then a radial distance of interest between the radar sensor 202 and the outlet of the urethra.

[0077] Reflection level and Npix

[0078] An example of an algorithm is to identify a reflection level of radar waves. This reflection level is called Npix and it depends on the dispersion of the urine stream. In this regard, the algorithm can count the number of fronts or the number of fronts having an intensity above a predetermined threshold. Concretely, this amounts to measuring the area of ​​the non-uniform zones on the “Doppler distance” map, independently of the intensity of the objects in each zone (the color).

[0079] The property relating to the urine stream is then a level of dispersion of the urine stream (either during the urine stream itself, or by reflections of the urine stream on the bowl).

[0080] Use of properties relating to the urine stream

[0081] In one embodiment, the properties relating to the urine stream make it possible to obtain physiological information from the user. For example, the speed of interest may be correlated with bladder pressure, pressure losses or flow rate, which may themselves be correlated with pathologies (hypertrophy, cancer, nervous disorder, etc.). For example, the level of reflection may be correlated with the laminar or turbulent nature of the urine stream.

[0082] In one embodiment, the properties relating to the urine stream are used to identify the originator of the urine stream, i.e., the person urinating. In particular, the identification may include discrimination between male and female.

[0083] [Fig.7] illustrates a three-dimensional representation of a plurality of users: each point represents a urination by a user, each point being placed by its value of Npix, Rmax and Vmax. The points associated with male users are represented by crosses and the points associated with female users are represented by circles.

[0084] [Fig.8] illustrates two-dimensional projections of the aforementioned three-dimensional representation (with another set of data). In other words, we have a representation of the three properties described previously (Vmax, Rmax, Npix) as a function of each other. [Fig.8] illustrates three graphs A, B, C. Graph A illustrates Rmax (in m) as a function of Vmax (in m / s); graph B illustrates Npix (in number) as a function of Vmax (in m / s); graph C illustrates Npix (in number) as a function of Rmax (in m).

[0085] These representations make it possible to visually highlight proofs of concept of gender discrimination using at least one property obtained by the radar sensor. The squares represent female users and the circles male users. The data in [Fig.8] were obtained from an internal campaign with 5 men and 5 women, with at least ten urinations each.

[0086] Male users and female users are clearly identifiable in certain illustrated projections.

[0087] For example, learning on a labeled data set allows male / female clusters to be determined. For example, in two-dimensional representations, learning can determine a classification function F(Rmax;Vmax) that partitions the space and allows clustering (or partitioning) male and female. The male / female clusters in graph C of [Fig.8] can be separated by a classification function F(NPix;Vmax) because females generally have a higher Vmax than males. For example, the classification function A.NPix + B.Vmax + C = 0 defines a straight line that separates the space of pairs (NPix;Vmax) in two. A new pair of points (NPix';Vmax') will be classified as male or female depending on the value of A.NPix'+BVmax', which will be either in less than 0 or greater than 0. More precise classification functions F can be defined to define more restricted clusters. More generally, we speak of classification rules, obtained using labeled data.

[0088] A classification using the NPix and Vmax properties gives usable classification results.

[0089] A classification using the three properties, NPix, Vmax and Rmax can allow to further refine the results. In this case, we define a classification function F(NPix; Vmax; Rmax) which compartmentalizes the space of throuples (NPix; Vmax; Rmax).

[0090] Thanks to such an algorithm, no calibration is necessary on the user.

[0091] The calculation of the properties of the urine stream can be performed by the control circuitry 302, 406. The allocation of the urine stream to a particular user can be performed by the control circuitry. The local execution allows the user to be quickly identified.

[0092] Example of physical explanations

[0093] In a woman, the jet is rapidly turbulent and further away from the radar sensor, which creates more of a urine front and therefore a greater reflection of the radar signal, hence a generally higher NPix.

[0094] The radial distance Rmax is lower in a man due to the position of the urethra in men closer to the radar sensor 202 than in women. However, in the present results, some urethras were outside the FoV of the radar sensor, thus making the use of Rmax for classification more difficult. On the other hand, Npix and Vmax allow classification in this case.

[0095] [Fig. 9] illustrates a diagram 900 representing the steps of a measurement method. The steps of the method 900 can be implemented by the control circuitry 302, 406. In a step 902, the control circuitry controls the radar sensor to emit signals. In a step 904, the control circuitry controls the radar sensor to receive reflected signals. Steps 902, 904 can be repeated several times to create an image. In a step 906, the control circuitry processes the reflected signals. Examples of processing have been described previously. In particular, the control circuitry calculates at least one property of the urine jet, including in particular the speed (for example Vmax), the radial distance (for example Rmax), a dispersion level (for example Npix).In a step 908, the control circuitry uses one or more classification rules stored in the control circuitry to classify the urine stream as coming from a male or a female and thus identify the user. In particular, the control circuitry 302, 406 classifies the urine stream using the at least one property of the urine stream. By identification, it is meant that the control circuitry can assign the urine stream to . a given user profile from among a plurality of user profiles stored in the control circuitry 302, 406. In particular, the assignment may be to a male profile or a female profile depending on the classification. In this embodiment, the control circuitry stores at most one profile of each gender. In one embodiment, the control circuitry stores at most one profile of each gender.

[0096] Depending on the classification of step 908, the control circuitry may or may not implement a urine analysis method as described in the aforementioned patent documents. For example, if the classification step 908 determines that the urine stream is attributed to a female profile, a urine analysis may be implemented to determine a hormone level linked to the menstrual cycle. Conversely, if the classification step 908 determines that the urine stream is attributed to a male profile, no urine analysis is launched. This makes it possible to drastically save urine analysis sessions by correctly identifying the person urinating.

[0097] The classification step 908 can be performed by the smartphone or the server and not by the control circuitry. In the same way, part of the processing step 906 can be performed by the smartphone or the server. Since the detection of the user can condition the triggering of a measurement and since urination only lasts a few seconds, it may be important that the classification step is performed by the control circuitry of the radar device itself. Indeed, a round trip with the server requires a stable internet connection and immediate availability of the server. To have an embedded algorithm, clustering without machine learning can be used.

[0098] Urine detector

[0099] In order to trigger a radar acquisition only when a urine stream is in progress (to save battery), the toilet may incorporate a urine detector 210. More particularly, the urine detector is mounted in the radar device 100. The urine detector 210 may detect the presence of a urine stream. The urine detector 210 may comprise a temperature sensor 220 mounted in the housing 200, for example at the collection orifice 204. When urine at more than 35°C runs onto the housing, the temperature sensor 220 will detect a sudden increase in temperature.

[0100] [Fig. 10] illustrates a diagram 1000 representing a method of activating the radar sensor 202. In a step 1002, the urine detector detects the presence of a urine stream. In a step 1004, in response to said detection, the control circuitry 302, 406 commands the radar sensor 202 to perform the method 900.

[0101] To identify a parameter of the urine stream, it is not always necessary to obtain a radar image of the entire urination. In particular, for identification purposes Based on the aforementioned properties of the urine stream, a single radar image of the urine stream may be sufficient. Missing the start of urination therefore does not pose any particular difficulties. The presented method is therefore particularly robust to the activation time of the radar sensor.

[0102] In another embodiment, the urine sensor is replaced by a user presence sensor. This sensor may be a load cell or an optical sensor. However, such a presence sensor cannot inform the radar sensor 202 that a urine stream is in progress but simply that a user is sitting. Therefore, it may be provided that the radar sensor sends prospective waves a few seconds before urination occurs to be certain of acquiring radar signals reflected by the urine stream.

[0103] Positioning the radar sensor in the toilets

[0104] [Fig. 11] illustrates different possible locations for the radar device 100 and in particular the radar module 202 inside the housing.

[0105] In one embodiment, the radar sensor 202 is centered relative to an axis of symmetry D of the housing 200; if the user centers the housing 200 on an axis of symmetry Z of the toilet, then the radar sensor 200 is centered relative to the toilet. This central positioning makes it possible to observe radial speeds closer to the actual ejection speed. In return, the risk of not seeing the entire jet increases.

[0106] In one embodiment, the radar sensor 202 is off-center relative to an axis of symmetry of the housing 200; if the user centers the housing 200 on an axis of symmetry Z of the toilet, then the radar sensor 200 is slightly off-center relative to the toilet. This positioning allows the radar sensor 202 to observe the jet slightly to the side (assuming that on average the urine jets are in the axis of symmetry) and therefore to increase the probability of observing the entire jet and to increase the accuracy of the measurement.

[0107] In one embodiment, the housing 200 is positioned at a distance from the axis of symmetry of the toilet, i.e. it is slightly offset to the right or left.

[0108] In the case of integration of the radar device into a urine analysis device, the housing 200 must be located under the urine stream, which requires positioning of the housing in the proximal part of the bowl and preferably close to an axis of symmetry Z of the toilet.

[0109] Integration of a radar sensor into a urine analysis device

[0110] In one embodiment, the radar device is integrated with a urine analysis device. The urine device has been described in WO2021 / 175909, WO2021 / 175944 (publication number), FR2109383, FR2109384, FR2109391, and FR2109392 (filing number). The classification of a user may be a step prior to triggering a urine analysis. The classification of the user also allows the analysis results to be assigned to the correct profile.

[0111] As illustrated in detail in [Fig. 12], the urine analysis device 1200 comprises a station 1202 and a cartridge 1204, removably mounted in the station 1202. The station 1202 notably comprises the housing 200 which is, according to a particular embodiment, formed as an assembly of two half-shells. The housing 200 contains a test assembly. The test assembly is intended to analyze the urine being received in the urine analysis device 100. The station 1202 further comprises an annular housing 1206, inside the housing 200, arranged around an axis of rotation A. The annular housing 1206 is configured to at least partially receive the cartridge 1204 mounted for rotation around the axis of rotation A (once in position in the annular housing 212). The cartridge 1204 comprises a plurality of test supports incorporating a reagent, for example a dry reagent arranged along a circle or an arc of a circle around the axis of rotation A.In one embodiment and for the remainder of the description, the test supports are test strips. The support tests are individually enclosed in a chamber.

[0112] The annular housing 1206 typically extends 360° and forms a groove configured to partially receive the cartridge 1204.

[0113] The station 1202 further includes the collection port 218, positioned for example on the rear shell in [Fig. 12]. The collection port 218 can receive urine dripping by gravity onto the outer surface of the housing 204. A drain port (not shown) is also included for draining liquid from the device 1200.

[0114] In one embodiment, the housing 200 has a diameter, measured in the direction normal to the axis A, of between 50 mm and 150 mm, for example close to 100 mm.

[0115] The test assembly includes a pump, an injector, and an analyzer, not shown in [Fig. 12]. The pump draws urine from the collection port 218 and then the injector injects the urine onto a test medium of the cartridge, and then the analyzer obtains properties of the test medium after it contacts the urine. The injector and the cartridge can move relative to each other so that the injector can pierce the chamber.

Claims

Claims

1. A method of measuring a urine stream of a user during urination to identify a user, the measuring method using a radar sensor (202) and comprising at least the following steps: - the radar sensor (202) transmitting at least one radar signal, in the direction of the urine stream, - the radar sensor (202) receiving a reflected radar signal, the received radar signal comprising reflections of the transmitted signal, the reflections being caused by at least the urine stream, - processing the received radar signal to determine at least one property relating to the urine stream, and - assigning the urine stream to a user profile from among a plurality of user profiles using the at least one property of the urine stream.

2. A measuring method according to claim 1, wherein the property relating to the urine stream comprises at least one distance of interest between the radar sensor (202) and the urine stream, for example the distance between the origin of the urine stream and the radar sensor (202).

3. Measuring method according to claim 2, wherein said distance of interest is obtained by: - ​​identifying a radial velocity of interest linked to the maximum radial velocity (Vmax) of a urine front of the urine stream, - obtaining the radial distance (Rmax) corresponding to this velocity of interest, said radial distance (Rmax) corresponding to the distance of interest.

4. A measuring method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the urine stream-related property comprises a dispersion level (NPix) of the urine stream.

5. A measuring method according to claim 4, wherein said dispersion level is obtained by calculating a reflection level of the reflected radar signals.

6. A measuring method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the property of the urine stream comprises at least one velocity of interest of a urine front of the urine stream.

7. A measuring method according to claim 6, wherein the urine stream velocity of interest comprises the maximum measured urine stream velocity (Vmax).

8. A measurement method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the attribution comprises an attribution between a user profile associated with a male and a user profile associated with a female.

9. A measuring method according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the assignment is by classification based on at least one urine stream property and a classification function.

10. A measurement method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the radar sensor (202) operates by frame, each frame being generated by a plurality of chirps, and the steps of transmitting and receiving being implemented for each chirp.

11. A measurement method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the radar sensor (202) is a Frequency Modulated Continuons Wave (FMCW) radar sensor, or the radar signal is FMCW.

12. Measurement method according to one of claims 1 to 11, in which the signal processing comprises a calculation of at least one “range-doppler” response.

13. Measuring method according to one of claims 1 to 12, comprising a prior step, using a urine detector (210) of determining the presence of a urine stream, the method comprising in response to said detection, a step of activating the radar sensor (202).

14. A computer program comprising instructions capable of implementing a method according to any one of claims 1 to 13 when the instructions are executed by a processor.

15. Radar device (100) comprising: - a housing (200), capable of being positioned on an internal wall of a toilet bowl (106), - a radar sensor (202), housed in the housing (200), and capable of emitting radar waves in the direction of the opening of the toilet bowl, the radar sensor (202) being capable of implementing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

16. Radar device (100), according to claim 15, in which the radar sensor is a radar sensor of the "Frequency Modulated Continuons Wave" (FMCW) type.

17. A radar device (100) according to any one of claims 15 to 16, comprising a urine detector (210) adapted to detect a stream of urine, the urine detector (210) being configured to activate the radar sensor (202) in response to detection of urine stream.

18. A urine analysis device (1500), comprising: - a radar device (100) according to one of claims 15 to 17, - a collection port (204) on the housing (200) for receiving urine, - a test assembly for analyzing the received urine.

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