Toilet device

Abstract

To provide a toilet device which can perform indirect illumination and imaging of the inside of a toilet bowl while having a compact configuration.SOLUTION: A toilet device 1 comprises: a toilet seat 4; an image sensor 45 which images the inside of a toilet bowl 91 of a toilet stool 9; a determination unit 311 which determines the state of feces of a user on the basis of an image of the inside of the toilet bowl 91 imaged by the image sensor 45; a user detection sensor 32 which transmits a user detection signal when the user exists in the vicinity of the toilet stool 9; body LEDs 34, 34, which are lit up so as to irradiate the inside of the toilet bowl 91 with light; and a control device 31 which lights up the body LEDs 34, 34 when the user detection signal is received. The control device 31 lights up the body LEDs 34, 34 even when the image sensor 45 images the inside of the toilet bowl 91.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a toilet device. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a toilet seat device that includes an image sensor and captures images of the inside of a toilet bowl. This toilet seat device further includes a lighting device (hereinafter also referred to as a "photography lighting device") that irradiates light into the toilet bowl when photographing. When a user is sitting on the toilet seat, the inside of the toilet bowl tends to be dark, but the photography lighting device irradiates light into the toilet bowl, making it possible to obtain a clear image of the inside of the toilet bowl, including the user's stool. By determining the state of the user's stool based on the image obtained in this way, it is expected that information useful for the user's health management can be obtained.

[0003] Patent Document 2 discloses a lighting device that irradiates light into the toilet bowl (hereinafter also referred to as "in-bowl lighting device"). The in-bowl lighting device can also function as an indirect lighting device that illuminates the toilet room instead of a lighting device (hereinafter also referred to as "indoor lighting device") installed on the ceiling or the like of the toilet room. For example, when a user who wakes up temporarily to defecate enters the toilet room at night, the in-bowl lighting device can irradiate light into the toilet bowl without turning on the indoor lighting device, and the light reflected on the surface of the toilet bowl and the accumulated water can softly brighten the toilet room. This makes it possible for the user to use the toilet bowl without being woken up by the strong light of the indoor lighting device. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-55522 [Patent Document 2] JP 2008-95446 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] There is a demand for taking pictures using an image sensor even in a toilet device that provides indirect lighting using an in-pot lighting device. However, if the lighting device for photography described in Patent Document 1 is provided in addition to the in-pot lighting device, the toilet device may become larger and its design may be impaired.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a toilet apparatus that is compact in configuration but capable of providing indirect lighting and photographing the inside of the toilet bowl. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, a toilet device according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises a toilet seat arranged above a toilet bowl, an image sensor that photographs the inside of the toilet bowl, a determination means that determines the state of the user's stool based on an image of the inside of the toilet bowl photographed by the image sensor, a user detection sensor that transmits a user detection signal when a user is present near the toilet bowl, a first lighting device that turns on to irradiate light into the toilet bowl, and a control device that turns on the first lighting device when the user detection signal is received, and the control device turns on the first lighting device even when the image sensor photographs the inside of the toilet bowl.

[0008] According to this configuration, when a user is near the toilet, the first lighting device turns on and irradiates light into the toilet bowl, so this first lighting device can be used for indirect lighting. The first lighting device also turns on and irradiates light into the toilet bowl when the image sensor photographs the inside of the toilet bowl. In other words, in this configuration, the first lighting device used for indirect lighting is also used when the image sensor photographs the inside of the toilet bowl, so a lighting device dedicated to photography is not required, or a lighting device dedicated to photography that is small and has a low output can be used. As a result, it is possible to make the configuration of the toilet apparatus compact.

[0009] In the toilet device according to the second aspect of the present invention, the control device selectively executes, as a mode for waiting for a user to approach the toilet bowl, an ON mode in which the first lighting device is turned on when a user detection signal is received, and an OFF mode in which the first lighting device is not turned on even when a user detection signal is received, and the control device further turns on the first lighting device when the image sensor photographs the inside of the toilet bowl regardless of whether the ON mode or the OFF mode was executed before photographing.

[0010] With this configuration, the control device can wait for a user to approach the toilet bowl while executing the OFF mode in which the first lighting device is not turned on even when a user detection signal is received, for users who do not require indirect lighting. However, when the image sensor captures an image of the inside of the toilet bowl after or during the user's defecation, the control device turns on the first lighting device even if the control device executed the OFF mode before capturing the image. This makes it possible to irradiate light into the toilet bowl during capture and obtain a clear image of the inside of the toilet bowl, including the user's stool, even if the user does not require indirect lighting.

[0011] In a toilet device according to a third aspect of the present invention, an image sensor is provided on the underside of the toilet seat, a first lighting device is configured to emit light toward the underside of the toilet seat and irradiate the light reflected by the underside of the toilet seat into the toilet bowl, and the image sensor is positioned at a position away from the central axis of the light emitted by the first lighting device.

[0012] When an excessive amount of light enters the image sensor, the color of the image captured becomes whiter than it actually is (a problem known as "whiteout"). With the above configuration, the image sensor is positioned away from the central axis of the light emitted by the first lighting device, so the light emitted by the first lighting device is prevented from directly entering the image sensor. As a result, it is possible to make the color of the image of the inside of the toilet bowl captured by the image sensor appropriate.

[0013] In order to avoid waking the user up with indirect lighting, it is necessary to set the output of the first lighting device to a relatively low level. However, when a first lighting device with a relatively low output is used, the illuminance inside the toilet bowl may be insufficient for photographing, and the image of the inside of the toilet bowl containing feces may become unclear.

[0014] A toilet device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention further includes a second lighting device that is provided separately from the first lighting device and turns on to irradiate light into the toilet bowl, and the control device turns on both the first lighting device and the second lighting device when the image sensor captures an image of the inside of the toilet bowl.

[0015] According to this configuration, when the image sensor captures an image of the inside of the toilet bowl, the second lighting device is turned on in addition to the first lighting device, so that the illuminance inside the toilet bowl can be sufficient for capturing an image. Since the illuminance is improved by both the first lighting device and the second lighting device, the second lighting device used can be smaller in size and have a smaller output than the first lighting device.

[0016] In the toilet apparatus according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the area of ​​the toilet bowl onto which the second lighting device irradiates light is different from the area of ​​the toilet bowl onto which the first lighting device irradiates light.

[0017] This configuration improves the illuminance over a wide range inside the toilet bowl, making it possible to obtain a clearer image of the inside of the toilet bowl containing stool.

[0018] From the viewpoint of indicating the position of the toilet bowl to a user, it is preferable that the first lighting device increases the illuminance of a portion of the toilet bowl that is easily visible to a user facing the toilet bowl, while it is preferable that the second lighting device irradiates light onto a portion of the toilet bowl that is deep inside the water seal portion and to which the first lighting device has difficulty irradiating light.

[0019] In the toilet device according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, when viewed from a user facing the toilet seat, the front is defined as a first direction and the rear is defined as a second direction, and the first lighting device is positioned near the end of the toilet bowl on the first direction side, and the second lighting device is positioned further towards the second direction than the first lighting device.

[0020] With this configuration, the illuminance of the end of the toilet bowl on the first direction side, which is easily visible to a user facing the toilet, can be easily increased by the light emitted by the first lighting device. Also, the back part of the water seal part of the toilet bowl tends to be dark, but the illuminance of the back part can be easily increased by the light emitted by the second lighting device. As a result, it is possible to provide a clear image of the inside of the toilet bowl, including stool, while providing indirect lighting. Effect of the Invention

[0021] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a toilet apparatus that has a compact configuration and yet is capable of providing indirect lighting and photographing the inside of the toilet bowl. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0022] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a toilet room in which a toilet device according to an embodiment of the present invention is installed. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the toilet seat apparatus of FIG. 1 without the cover. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the toilet seat of FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a plan view of the toilet seat apparatus of FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the toilet apparatus of FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a side view of the toilet seat apparatus of FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a side view of the toilet seat apparatus of FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In order to facilitate understanding of the description, the same reference numerals are used to refer to the same components in each drawing as much as possible, and duplicated description will be omitted.

[0024] <Overall composition> First, the configuration of a toilet device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 1 to Fig. 5. Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a toilet room R in which the toilet device 1 is installed, and Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the toilet seat device 2 without the cover 3a. Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the toilet seat 4. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the toilet seat device 2, with the configuration of the back side of the toilet seat 4 shown by dashed lines. Fig. 5 is a block diagram of the toilet device 1.

[0025] As shown in Fig. 1, a toilet bowl 9 is installed on the floor surface F of the toilet room R. The toilet bowl 9 is a large toilet bowl, and has a toilet bowl 91 that receives the user's feces, and a rim 92 that stands around the toilet bowl 91. For example, when a flushing operation unit (not shown) provided in the toilet room R is operated by a user, flushing water is supplied to the toilet bowl 91, flushing the toilet bowl 91 and discharging feces from the toilet bowl 91. The flushing operation unit can take various forms, such as an operation lever provided in the toilet room R or a switch provided on the operation device 7 described below.

[0026] A toilet apparatus 1 is applied to this toilet bowl 9. The toilet apparatus 1 includes a toilet seat apparatus 2 and an operating device 7. In the following description, when viewed from a user seated on a toilet seat 4 (described later), the front is referred to as "front", the rear is referred to as "rear", the left is referred to as "left", and the right is referred to as "right". Additionally, the upper vertical direction is referred to as "up", and the lower vertical direction is referred to as "down". The rear corresponds to the "first direction" of the present invention, and the front corresponds to the "second direction" of the present invention.

[0027] The toilet seat device 2 is attached to the top of the toilet bowl 9, and includes a main body 3, a toilet seat 4, and a nozzle 5. The toilet seat device 2 may be attached to the toilet bowl 9 in a detachable manner, or may be attached to the toilet bowl 9 so as to be integrated therewith.

[0028] The main body 3 has a cover 3a shown in Fig. 1 and a base plate 3b shown in Fig. 2. The base plate 3b is disposed so as to abut against the upper surface of the rear part of the toilet bowl 9, and various parts are fixed thereto. The main body LEDs 34, 34 are provided on the front surface of the base plate 3b.

[0029] The main body LEDs 34, 34 are light sources that are turned on by receiving a supply of electric power, and are an example of the "first lighting device" of the present invention. The light emitted by the turned-on main body LEDs 34, 34 exhibits strong directivity, and the directivity angle is relatively small. If a straight line passing through the approximate center of the directivity angle is taken as a central axis CA, 34 of the main body LEDs 34, 34, as shown in FIG. 4, the main body LEDs 34, 34 are attached to the base plate 3b so that the central axis CA, CA of the light extends at an angle with respect to the front-rear direction. The main body LEDs 34, 34 are arranged with a gap between them in the left-right direction, and are provided at a position near the rear end 91a of the toilet bowl 91 in the front-rear direction. The rear end 91a of the toilet bowl 91 corresponds to the "end on the first direction side" of the present invention.

[0030] The cover 3a covers the upper part of the base plate 3b while exposing the main body LEDs 34, 34. As shown in Fig. 1, a user detection sensor 32 and a seating detection sensor 33 are provided on the front surface of the cover 3a.

[0031] The user detection sensor 32 is provided to detect the presence of a user near the toilet bowl 9. The user detection sensor 32 is, for example, a pyroelectric infrared sensor, which transmits a signal at a predetermined cycle and is configured so that a change occurs in the signal when it receives infrared rays of a specific wavelength emitted by a user. A determination unit 311 of the control device 31, which will be described later, determines whether or not a user is present near the toilet bowl 9 based on this signal. In this specification, of the signals transmitted by the user detection sensor 32, those which the determination unit 311 can determine based on that a user is present near the toilet bowl 9 are referred to as "user detection signals".

[0032] The seating detection sensor 33 is provided to detect that a user is seated on the seating surface 4b of the toilet seat 4. The seating detection sensor 33 is, for example, a distance measuring sensor that uses infrared rays, and is configured to transmit a signal at a predetermined cycle and to cause a change in the signal according to a change in the distance between an object and the seating detection sensor 33. A determination unit 311 of the control device 31, which will be described later, determines whether or not a user is seated on the seating surface 4b of the toilet seat 4 based on this signal. In this specification, of the signals transmitted by the seating detection sensor 33, those that the determination unit 311 can determine based on that signal that a user is seated on the seating surface 4b of the toilet seat 4 are referred to as "seat detection signals."

[0033] The toilet seat 4 is annular with an opening 4a formed in its center. The opening 4a opens the toilet bowl 91 when the toilet seat 4 is placed on the rim 92. The rear end of the toilet seat 4 is supported by a shaft, which allows the toilet seat 4 to rotate between a position in which it is placed on the rim 92 and a position in which it is separated from the rim 92 and widely opens the toilet bowl 91.

[0034] As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the bottom surface 4c of the toilet seat 4 is provided with front legs 41, 41 and rear legs 42, 42. The front legs 41, 41 are arranged on the bottom surface 4c at a position closer to the front end, so as to face each other in the left-right direction with the opening 4a in between. The rear legs 42, 42 are arranged on the bottom surface 4c at a position closer to the rear end, so as to face each other in the left-right direction with the opening 4a in between. The rear legs 42, 42 have rear end surfaces 42a, 42a that are inclined with respect to the bottom surface 4c. When the toilet seat 4 is placed on the rim 92, the front legs 41, 41 and the rear legs 42, 42 abut against the upper surface of the rim 92. Also, as shown in Fig. 4, when the toilet seat 4 is in a position placed on the rim 92, the rear end surfaces 42a, 42a of the rear legs 42, 42 are arranged on the central axes CA, CA of the light emitted by the main body LEDs 34, 34.

[0035] As shown in Fig. 3, recesses 43 and 44 are formed in the bottom surface 4c of the toilet seat 4. The recesses 43 and 44 are formed in a portion of the bottom surface 4c to the right of the opening 4a so as to be spaced apart from each other in the front-rear direction. An image sensor 45 is disposed in the recess 43, and a toilet seat LED 46 is disposed in the recess 44.

[0036] Image sensor 45 is a camera that captures images by receiving light from the outside and is configured to transmit image signals. When toilet seat 4 is placed on rim 92, image sensor 45 is disposed in recess 43 so as to face the inside of toilet bowl 91. Also, as shown in Fig. 4, image sensor 45 is disposed at a position spaced apart from central axes CA, CA of light emitted by main body LEDs 34, 34.

[0037] The toilet seat LED 46 is a light source that lights up when power is supplied. The toilet seat LED 46 is smaller and has lower output than the main body LEDs 34, 34. When the toilet seat 4 is in a position placed on the rim 92, the toilet seat LED 46 is disposed in a position forward of the main body LEDs 34, 34 and is disposed in the recess 44 so as to face the inside of the toilet bowl 91. The toilet seat LED 46 is an example of a "second lighting device" of the present invention.

[0038] 1 and 2 is used for washing the private parts of a user. Nozzle 5 is configured to be movable from main body 3 into toilet bowl 91 by an electric motor (not shown). When nozzle 5 is located in toilet bowl 91, an electromagnetic valve (not shown) is opened, causing nozzle 5 to spray water toward the private parts of the user.

[0039] The operating device 7 shown in Fig. 1 is installed, for example, on a wall surface of the toilet room R. The operating device 7 has a number of switches (not shown) respectively corresponding to a number of operations of the toilet seat device 2 (for example, starting and stopping private parts washing). As shown in Fig. 5, the operating device 7 further has a communication unit 71 and a display unit 72. The communication unit 71 wirelessly transmits and receives signals to and from a communication unit 312 of the toilet seat device 2, which will be described later. The display unit 72 is a liquid crystal panel provided on the outer surface of the operating device 7, and displays various information.

[0040] As shown in Figures 2 and 5, a control device 31 is disposed within the main body 3 of the toilet seat device 2. The control device 31 is configured partially or entirely with analog circuits or as a digital processor, and as shown in Figure 5, has a determination unit 311 and a communication unit 312 as functional blocks. The determination unit 311 makes various determinations based on signals etc. received by the control device 31 from the outside. The communication unit 312 transmits and receives signals to and from devices external to the toilet seat device 2. The determination unit 311 is an example of the "determination means" of the present invention.

[0041] It should be noted that the software modules incorporated in the control device 31 do not necessarily need to be divided into the functional blocks shown in Fig. 5. In other words, actual analog circuits and modules may be configured to perform the functions of the multiple functional blocks shown in Fig. 5, or may be further subdivided. The configuration of the control device 31 can be appropriately modified by those skilled in the art as long as it is configured to execute the processes described below.

[0042] The control device 31 is connected to the nozzle 5, the main body LEDs 34, 34, the image sensor 45, and the toilet seat LED 46 so as to be able to transmit control signals. The control device 31 can also receive signals from the image sensor 45, the user detection sensor 32, and the seating detection sensor 33.

[0043] The control device 31 can execute an ON mode and an OFF mode as modes for waiting for a user to approach the toilet bowl 9. The user can operate a switch provided on the operating device 7 to preset the control device 31 to execute either the ON mode or the OFF mode.

[0044] <Example of operation> Next, an example of the operation of the toilet device 1 will be described with reference to Figures 6 and 7. Figures 6 and 7 are side views of the toilet seat device 2, and show the toilet bowl 91 and the water seal part 93 inside the toilet bowl 9 by dashed lines.

[0045] (ON mode) First, a case where the control device 31 is set to execute the ON mode will be described. The control device 31 is set in advance to execute the ON mode by a user who requires indirect lighting by the main body LEDs 34, 34. When a user enters the toilet room R and approaches the toilet 9, the user detection sensor 32 starts transmitting a user detection signal. When the determination unit 311 determines that a user is present near the toilet 9 based on the user detection signal, the control device 31 starts transmitting a control signal to the main body LEDs 34, 34 (i.e., starts supplying power to the main body LEDs 34, 34). This causes the main body LEDs 34, 34 to light up.

[0046] The lit main body LEDs 34, 34 mainly emit light in a direction along the central axes CA, CA shown in Fig. 4. The light emitted from the main body LEDs 34, 34 along the central axes CA, CA is reflected by the rear end surfaces 42a, 42a of the rear legs 42, 42 of the toilet seat 4, as shown by arrow L1 in Fig. 6, and directed into the toilet bowl 91. This light is irradiated mainly onto area A1 near the rear end 91a within the toilet bowl 91. Area A1 is set so as to be a part that is easily visible to a user facing the toilet bowl 9 (i.e., a user standing in front of the toilet bowl 9 facing the toilet bowl 9).

[0047] The light irradiated to area A1 is reflected by the surfaces of the toilet bowl 91 and the water W, and the reflected light softly illuminates the inside of the toilet room R, thereby providing indirect lighting by the main body LEDs 34, 34. As a result, even if a user who wakes up temporarily to defecate enters the toilet room R at night, the user can confirm the position of the toilet bowl 9 without turning on the indoor lighting device of the toilet room R.

[0048] Next, when the user sits on the toilet seat 4, the seating detection sensor 33 starts transmitting a seating detection signal. When the determination unit 311 determines that the user is seated on the toilet seat 4 based on the seating detection signal, the control device 31 continues transmitting a control signal to the main body LEDs 34, 34. As a result, the main body LEDs 34, 34 are lit up even while the user is seated on the toilet seat 4.

[0049] (OFF mode) Next, a case where the control device 31 is set to execute the OFF mode will be described. The control device 31 is set in advance to execute the OFF mode by a user who does not require indirect lighting by the main body LEDs 34, 34. Even if the control device 31 receives a user detection signal while executing the OFF mode, it does not send a control signal to the main body LEDs 34, 34 (i.e., it does not supply power to the main body LEDs 34, 34). Therefore, the main body LEDs 34, 34 do not light up.

[0050] (Local cleaning) When a user seated on the toilet seat 4 operates the switch of the operating device 7 corresponding to the start of private parts washing, the communication unit 71 of the operating device 7 generates a signal corresponding to this switch and transmits it wirelessly to the toilet seat device 2. The toilet seat device 2 receives this signal at the communication unit 312 of the control device 31, and the control device 31 transmits a control signal to the nozzle 5. Having received the control signal, the nozzle 5 advances from the main body 3 into the toilet bowl 91, and sprays water supplied from the open solenoid valve towards the user's private parts.

[0051] (Photographing inside the toilet bowl using an image sensor) After or during the user's defecation, the control device 31 transmits a control signal to the image sensor 45 to capture an image of the inside of the toilet bowl 91. The image sensor 45 transmits an image signal corresponding to the captured image of the inside of the toilet bowl 91 to the control device 31. Having received the image signal, the control device 31 determines, in the determination unit 311, at least one of the presence or absence of the user's stool and the color, shape, size, and amount of the stool based on a predetermined program. The communication unit 312 of the control device 31 generates a signal corresponding to this determination result and transmits it to an external cloud service C. By accessing this cloud service C and obtaining the above determination result, medical personnel and the like can grasp the user's health condition and provide advice based on it.

[0052] Here, while the control device 31 is sending a control signal to the image sensor 45 to photograph the inside of the toilet bowl 91, it also sends a control signal to the main body LEDs 34, 34 and the toilet seat LED 46 to turn on both. As a result, the image sensor 45 photographs the inside of the toilet bowl 91 in a situation where light is irradiated from the main body LEDs 34, 34 and the toilet seat LED 46 into the toilet bowl 91, as shown in Fig. 7. The control device 31 turns on the main body LEDs 34, 34 and the toilet seat LED 46 during photography, regardless of whether the ON mode or the OFF mode was executed before photography. In this way, the output of the main body LEDs 34, 34 when both the main body LEDs 34, 34 and the toilet seat LED 46 are turned on may be suppressed more than the output when the main body LEDs 34, 34 are used for indirect lighting.

[0053] 7, the light emitted by the toilet seat LED 46 is directed into the toilet bowl 91, as shown by the arrow L2, and is mainly irradiated onto an area A2 near the water seal portion 93. The area A2 is set to be different from the area A1 to which the main body LEDs 34, 34 irradiate light, but may partially overlap with the area A1. The light emitted by the toilet seat LED 46 reaches the back of the water seal portion 93.

[0054] <Action and effect> According to this configuration, when a user is near the toilet bowl 9, the main body LEDs 34, 34 are turned on and irradiate light into the toilet bowl 91, so that the main body LEDs 34, 34 can be used for indirect lighting. The main body LEDs 34, 34 are also turned on and irradiate light into the toilet bowl 91 when the image sensor 45 photographs the inside of the toilet bowl 91. In other words, in this configuration, the main body LEDs 34, 34 used for indirect lighting are also used when the image sensor 45 photographs the inside of the toilet bowl 91, so that a lighting device dedicated to photography is not required, or a lighting device dedicated to photography that is small and has a low output can be used. As a result, the configuration of the toilet device 1 can be made compact.

[0055] Furthermore, the control device 31 selectively executes an ON mode in which the main body LEDs 34, 34 are turned on when a user detection signal is received, as a mode for waiting for a user to approach the toilet bowl 9, and an OFF mode in which the main body LEDs 34, 34 are not turned on even when a user detection signal is received. Furthermore, when the image sensor 45 photographs the inside of the toilet bowl 91, the control device 31 turns on the main body LEDs 34, 34 regardless of whether the ON mode or the OFF mode was executed before photographing.

[0056] With this configuration, the control device 31 can wait for the user to approach the toilet bowl 9 while executing the OFF mode in which the main body LEDs 34, 34 are not turned on even when a user detection signal is received for a user who does not require indirect lighting. However, when the image sensor 45 captures an image of the inside of the toilet bowl 91 after or during the user's defecation, the control device 31 turns on the main body LEDs 34, 34 even if the OFF mode was executed before capturing the image. This makes it possible to irradiate the inside of the toilet bowl 91 with light during capture and obtain a clear image of the inside of the toilet bowl 91, including the user's stool, even if the user does not require indirect lighting.

[0057] Moreover, image sensor 45 is provided on the back side of toilet seat 4. Main body LEDs 34, 34 are configured to emit light toward the back side of toilet seat 4 and irradiate the light reflected by the back side of toilet seat 4 into toilet bowl 91. Image sensor 45 is disposed at a position spaced apart from central axes CA, CA of the light emitted by main body LEDs 34, 34.

[0058] According to this configuration, image sensor 45 is disposed at a position spaced apart from central axes CA, CA of light emitted by main body LEDs 34, 34, and therefore it is possible to prevent light emitted by main body LEDs 34, 34 from directly entering image sensor 45. As a result, it is possible to make the color of the image of the inside of toilet bowl 91 photographed by image sensor 45 appropriate.

[0059] The toilet device 1 further includes a toilet seat LED 46 that is provided separately from the main body LEDs 34, 34 and lights up to irradiate light into the toilet bowl 91. When the image sensor 45 captures an image of the inside of the toilet bowl 91, the control device 31 turns on both the main body LEDs 34, 34 and the toilet seat LED 46.

[0060] According to this configuration, when image sensor 45 captures an image of the inside of toilet bowl 91, toilet seat LED 46 is turned on in addition to main body LED 34, 34, so that the illuminance inside toilet bowl 91 can be made sufficient for capturing an image. Since the illuminance is improved by both main body LED 34, 34 and toilet seat LED 46, the toilet seat LED 46 used may be smaller in size and have a lower output than the main body LED 34, 34.

[0061] Furthermore, the area A2 of the toilet bowl 91 onto which the toilet seat LED 46 irradiates light is different from the area A1 of the toilet bowl 91 onto which the main body LEDs 34, 34 irradiate light.

[0062] According to this configuration, the illuminance over a wide range within the toilet bowl 91 can be improved, and an image of the inside of the toilet bowl 91 containing stool can be made clearer.

[0063] Further, the main body LEDs 34, 34 are disposed at a position closer to the rear end portion 91a of the toilet bowl 91. The toilet seat LED 46 is disposed at a position forward of the main body LEDs 34, 34.

[0064] With this configuration, the illuminance of the rear end 91a of the toilet bowl 91, which is easily visible to a user facing the toilet bowl 9, can be easily increased by the light emitted by the main body LEDs 34, 34. Also, although the back of the water seal portion 93 of the toilet bowl 9 tends to be dark, the illuminance of the back can be easily increased by the light emitted by the toilet seat LED 46. As a result, it is possible to obtain a clear image of the inside of the toilet bowl 91, including stool, while providing indirect lighting.

[0065] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. In other words, even if a person skilled in the art appropriately modifies the above-described embodiment, the modification is included in the scope of the present invention as long as it has the features of the present invention.

[0066] For example, the toilet device 1 according to the above embodiment includes the main body LEDs 34, 34, which are an example of the first lighting device, and the toilet seat LED 46, which is an example of the second lighting device. However, the present invention is not limited to this form. If the main body LEDs 34, 34 are capable of providing indirect lighting and photographing the inside of the toilet bowl 91 by themselves, there is no need to provide the toilet seat LED 46. [Explanation of symbols]

[0067] 1...toilet device, 31...control device, 311...determination unit (determination means), 32...user detection sensor, 34...main body LED (first lighting device), 4...toilet seat, 45...image sensor, 46...toilet seat LED (second lighting device), 9...toilet bowl, 91...toilet bowl, A1, A2...area, CA...central axis

Claims

1. A toilet seat disposed above the toilet bowl; an image sensor for capturing an image of the inside of the toilet bowl; a determination means for determining a state of the user's stool based on an image of the inside of the toilet bowl captured by the image sensor; a user detection sensor that transmits a user detection signal when a user is present near the toilet; A seating detection unit that detects the user sitting on the toilet seat; A first lighting device that is turned on to irradiate light into the toilet bowl; a control device that turns on the first lighting device based on the user detection signal to provide indirect lighting, The control device keeps the first lighting device turned on when the seating detection unit detects the user, and also turns on the first lighting device when the image sensor photographs the inside of the toilet bowl.

2. the control device selectively executes, as a mode for waiting for a user to approach the toilet, an ON mode in which the first illumination device is turned on when the user detection signal is received, and an OFF mode in which the first illumination device is not turned on even when the user detection signal is received, 2. The toilet device according to claim 1, wherein the control device is further configured to turn on the first lighting device when the image sensor captures an image of the inside of the toilet bowl, regardless of whether the image sensor was in the ON mode or the OFF mode before capturing the image.

3. The image sensor is provided on the back side of the toilet seat, the first lighting device is configured to emit light toward a back side of the toilet seat and irradiate the light reflected by the back side of the toilet seat into the toilet bowl; 3. The toilet device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the image sensor is arranged at a position spaced apart from a central axis of the light emitted by the first lighting device.

4. A second lighting device is provided separately from the first lighting device and is turned on to irradiate light into the toilet bowl.

4. The toilet apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control device turns on both the first lighting device and the second lighting device when the image sensor captures an image of the inside of the toilet bowl.

5. 5. The toilet apparatus of claim 4, wherein an area of ​​the toilet bowl onto which the second lighting device illuminates is different from an area of ​​the toilet bowl onto which the first lighting device illuminates.

6. When viewed from a user facing the toilet seat, the front is defined as a first direction and the rear is defined as a second direction, the first lighting device is disposed at a position near an end of the toilet bowl on the first direction side, The toilet apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the second lighting device is disposed at a position closer to the second direction than the first lighting device.

Images