Toilet bowl device

Abstract

To provide a toilet bowl device capable of accurately detecting a seating state of a user.SOLUTION: In the toilet bowl device, a control unit determines whether a user is in a seating state (C1, D1) of attempting to sit on a toilet seat or being seated on the toilet seat, based on a detection distance to the user detected by a radio wave sensor and signal strength. The control unit determines the seating state (C1, D1) when the detection distance corresponds to a seating distance L1 and the signal strength is equal to or greater than a seating threshold X1. After determining the seating state (C1, D1), the control unit maintains the determination of the seating state (C1, D1) when the detection distance remains at the seating distance L1 and the signal strength is equal to or greater than a human detection threshold Y1.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a toilet apparatus, and more particularly to a toilet apparatus that detects a human body such as entering, sitting, etc. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a toilet device that is provided with a human detector using wireless signals to detect the actions of a user, such as entering or leaving a toilet room, and controls the discharge of flush water, etc. (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] The human detector has a Doppler sensor (radio wave sensor) and a signal processor. The Doppler sensor transmits radio waves of a predetermined frequency into a detection range, receives radio waves reflected from objects moving within the detection range, and outputs a sensor signal of a Doppler frequency corresponding to the difference in frequency between the transmitted and received radio waves. The signal processor detects the user's movements by comparing the sensor signal with a threshold value. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6176336 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The human detector described in Patent Document 1 uses a Doppler sensor to detect the distance to the user, and determines that the user is seated when the distance between the user and the toilet device becomes short.

[0006] On the other hand, there are also radio wave sensors that determine the user's state (whether the user is away from his / her seat, etc.) based on the signal strength. In such cases, however, if the user remains motionless for a while after sitting down, the signal strength of the radio wave weakens. As a result, even if the user is still in his / her seat, the sensor may determine that the user is not being detected (i.e., a false positive occurs that the user is away from his / her seat). [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and has an object to provide a toilet apparatus that can correctly detect the seated state of a user.

[0008] A toilet device according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a toilet body, a toilet seat, a radio wave sensor, and a determination unit. The toilet seat is placed on the toilet body. The radio wave sensor is set with a seating threshold and a human presence threshold lower than the seating threshold for the detected signal strength. The determination unit determines whether the user is in a seated state where the user is about to sit or is sitting on the toilet seat based on the detected distance to the user detected by the radio wave sensor and the signal strength. The determination unit determines the seated state when the detected distance is the seated distance and the signal strength is equal to or greater than the seated threshold. After determining the seated state, the determination unit maintains the determination that the user is in the seated state when the detected distance is the seated distance and the signal strength is equal to or greater than the human presence threshold. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the toilet device of the present disclosure, the seated state of the user can be correctly detected. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a toilet apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of the toilet apparatus. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the radio wave sensor of the toilet device. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the judgment control operation of the control section of the toilet apparatus. [Diagram 5]FIG. 5 is a graph showing the change in signal strength and detection distance with respect to the passage of time in a first example of the movement from when a user sits down to when he or she leaves the seat. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a user in a state where the user is not seated (in a position away from the toilet within the toilet device space). [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a user making a transition from a seated state to a seated state. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a user in a seated position. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a graph showing the change in signal strength with respect to the passage of time in a second example of the movement from when a user sits down to when he leaves the seat. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a user is away from his / her seat. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] (Embodiment) Hereinafter, a toilet device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the configuration described in the following embodiment is merely an example of the present disclosure. The present disclosure is not limited to the following embodiment, and various modifications are possible depending on the design, etc., as long as the effects of the present disclosure can be achieved.

[0012] (First embodiment) (1) Basic structure of toilet equipment A toilet apparatus 1 according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. In this embodiment, the space in which the toilet apparatus 1 is arranged is referred to as an inner-toilet space SP1 (toilet apparatus space), and the space outside the inner-toilet space SP1 is referred to as an outer-toilet space SP2 (Figure 6).

[0013] The toilet apparatus 1 mainly comprises a toilet body 2 and a toilet seat apparatus 3.

[0014] The toilet body 2 is a Western-style toilet having a concave bowl portion 7 and a rim 8 formed around the periphery of the bowl portion 7.

[0015] The toilet seat device 3 is installed on the upper surface of the rim 8 of the toilet bowl body 2. The toilet seat device 3 includes a toilet seat body 10 placed on the rear upper surface of the rim 8, and a toilet seat 11 and a toilet lid 12 rotatably supported on the toilet seat body 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the toilet seat body 10 incorporates a flushing device 21, a private parts washing device 22, an opening / closing device 23, and a lighting control device 24. The flushing device 21 supplies water to the bowl part 7 and drains water from the bowl part 7. The private parts washing device 22 has a washing nozzle 26 (FIG. 1) that protrudes into the bowl part 7 and washes the private parts of the user P1 (FIG. 6), and water for private parts washing is discharged from the washing nozzle 26. The opening / closing device 23 controls the opening and closing of the toilet seat 11 (described later) and the toilet lid 12 (described later). The lighting control device 24 controls the turning on and off of lighting fixtures (not shown) in the toilet space SP1. The toilet seat 11 and the toilet lid 12 are configured on the upper surface side of the toilet body 2 so as to be freely opened and closed by an opening / closing device 23 using a motor or the like.

[0016] A remote control operator 13 is installed on a wall surface of the toilet space SP1, and the remote control operator 13 is provided with operation switches for operating the flushing device 21, the private parts cleansing device 22, and the opening / closing device 23, and transmits operation signals such as infrared signals in response to the operation of the operation switches. A receiving unit (not shown) that receives the operation signals transmitted from the remote control operator 13 is provided on the toilet seat body 10 of the toilet seat device 3.

[0017] (2) Radio wave sensor (2-1) Overview of the radio wave sensor The toilet bowl apparatus 1 further includes a radio wave sensor 5. As shown in Fig. 1, the radio wave sensor 5 is provided in a toilet seat body 10 of the toilet seat apparatus 3. More specifically, the radio wave sensor 5 is provided in a front portion inside the toilet seat body 10.

[0018] The radio wave sensor 5 is a Doppler sensor that transmits high-frequency radio waves such as microwaves or millimeter waves toward a detection range, receives the reflected waves reflected by an object moving within the detection range, and outputs a sensor signal (detection signal) with a Doppler frequency equivalent to the difference in frequency between the transmitted and received radio waves. The sensor signal is an analog time-axis signal corresponding to the movement of the object. Note that when a user P1 moves within the detection range, the frequency of the reflected wave shifts due to the Doppler effect. The detection targets are the presence or absence, status, and actions (entering, leaving, sitting, leaving, etc.) of the user P1 in the toilet space SP1.

[0019] (2-2) Details of the radio wave sensor The radio wave sensor 5 includes a sensor unit 15 and a signal processing unit 16, as shown in FIG.

[0020] The sensor unit 15 has a transmitter 31, a transmission control unit 32, and a receiver 33. The transmitter 31 oscillates a sine wave signal, for example, in the 24 GHz band, and transmits radio waves toward the detection range (so that the beam faces the front direction when viewed from the toilet device 1) via a transmission antenna (not shown). The transmission control unit 32 controls the frequency and transmission timing of the radio waves transmitted by the transmitter 31. The receiver 33 receives radio waves reflected by an object within the detection range via a reception antenna (not shown), and outputs a sensor signal with a frequency corresponding to the difference in frequency between the transmitted radio waves and the received radio waves. The generated sensor signal is a signal that contains many frequency components according to the moving speed of the human body that reflected the microwave, and the frequency becomes higher when the moving speed is high, and the frequency becomes lower when the moving speed is low.

[0021] The signal processing unit 16 processes the sensor signal output from the sensor unit 15. The signal processing unit 16 has an amplifier unit 35 and an A / D converter unit 36. The amplifier unit 35 amplifies the sensor signal. The A / D converter unit 36 ​​converts the amplified sensor signal into a digital sensor signal and outputs it.

[0022] The signal processing unit 16 further includes a frequency analysis unit 37. The frequency analysis unit 37 calculates the signal strength (Doppler signal amplitude strength).

[0023] The signal processing unit 16 further includes a distance measuring unit 38. The distance measuring unit 38 calculates the distance from the sensor unit 15 to the user P1 based on the signal that has been subjected to the frequency analysis processing.

[0024] (3) Control section (3-1) Basic functions of the control unit As shown in Fig. 2, the toilet apparatus 1 further has a control unit 17 (determination unit). The control unit 17 includes a computer system having one or more processors and a memory. The functions of the control unit 17 are realized by the processor of the computer system executing a program recorded in the memory of the computer system. The program may be recorded in the memory, or may be provided via a telecommunications line such as the Internet, or may be recorded on a non-transitory recording medium such as a memory card and provided.

[0025] The control unit 17 controls the operations of the flushing device 21, the local cleaning device 22, and the opening / closing device 23 in response to an operation signal from the remote control operation device 13. Furthermore, the control unit 17 controls the operations of the flushing device 21, the local cleaning device 22, the opening / closing device 23, and the lighting control device 24 based on a detection signal (signal strength and distance information) output from the radio wave sensor 5.

[0026] (3-2) Status judgment function of the control unit The control unit 17 has a state determination function for determining the state of the user P1. The states of the user P1 are an unoccupied state A1, an unseated state B1, a first seated state C1, and a second seated state D1.

[0027] The unmanned state A1 is a state in which the user P1 is not present in the toilet space SP1.

[0028] The off-seat state B1 is a state in which the user P1 is in the toilet space SP1 (is present) but is not sitting on the toilet seat 11.

[0029] The first seating state C1 is a state in which the user P1 is in the process of sitting on the toilet seat 11.

[0030] The second seating state D1 is a state in which the user P1 is sitting on the toilet seat 11.

[0031] The control unit 17 judges the state of the user P1 based on the signal strength as basic information. Note that the control unit 17 sets a seating threshold X1 and a human presence threshold Y1 lower than the seating threshold X1 as thresholds related to the signal strength, as shown in FIG.

[0032] (3-3) User status judgment and control operation The control unit 17 judges the state of the user P1 by using the sensor signal (signal strength and detection distance) transmitted from the signal processing unit 16 of the radio wave sensor 5. Since the state of the user P1 is judged by using the detection distance as well in this way, the state of the user P1 can be judged more accurately.

[0033] The state determination control operation of the control unit 17 for the user P1 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0034] The control flow charts described below are merely examples, and each step may be omitted or replaced as necessary. In addition, a plurality of steps may be executed simultaneously, or some or all of the steps may be executed in an overlapping manner.

[0035] Furthermore, each block in the control flowchart is not limited to a single control operation, but can be replaced with a plurality of control operations represented by a plurality of blocks.

[0036] The operation of each device is the result of commands from the control unit to each device, and these are represented by each step of the software application.

[0037] In the following description, a first example of a series of actions of the user P1 will be explained appropriately using Figures 5 to 8, and a second example of a series of actions of the user P1 will be explained appropriately using Figures 9 to 10. In both examples, the user P1 enters the toilet interior space SP1 from the toilet exterior space SP2 (entering the toilet), approaches the toilet device 1 in the toilet interior space SP1, sits on the toilet seat 11, leaves the toilet seat 11, leaves the toilet device 1 in the toilet interior space SP1, and exits from the toilet interior space SP1 to the toilet exterior space SP2 (exiting the toilet).

[0038] In step S1 of FIG. 4, it is determined whether the signal strength is equal to or greater than the human presence threshold Y1. If the signal strength is equal to or greater than the human presence threshold Y1, the process proceeds to step S2. If the signal strength is less than the human presence threshold Y1, the process proceeds to step S12. In step S12, the control unit 17 determines that the state of the user P1 is unattended state A1 (the user P1 is not in the toilet space SP1: corresponding to A1 in FIG. 5). That is, the control unit 17 determines that the state is unattended state A1 when the signal strength is less than the human presence threshold Y1. If the state is unattended state A1, the control unit 17 controls the flushing device 21 to lower the water level in the bowl unit 7 (or to maintain the water level at a low level), the lighting control device 24 to turn off the lighting fixtures in the toilet space SP1 (or to maintain the lighting state at an off state), and the opening / closing device 23 to close the toilet seat 11 and the toilet lid 12 (or to maintain the closed state). Furthermore, the control unit 17 stops the operation of the local cleaning device 22 (or keeps it in a stopped state).

[0039] In step S2, the control unit 17 determines that the state of the user P1 is in the away-from-seat state B1 (as shown in FIG. 6, the user P1 is in the toilet space SP1: corresponding to B1 in FIG. 5). If the state is B1, the control unit 17 controls the lighting control device 24 to turn on the lights in the toilet space SP1, and controls the opening / closing device 23 to open the toilet lid 12 or the toilet seat 11 and the toilet lid 12.

[0040] Subsequently, in the next steps S3, S4, and S5, the control unit 17 determines, based on the detection distance and the signal strength detected by the radio wave sensor 5, whether or not the seated state is the first seated state C1.

[0041] In step S3, it is determined whether the detected distance is the seating distance L1. If the detected distance exceeds the seating distance L1, the process returns to step S1. If the detected distance becomes the seating distance L1, the process proceeds to step S4. Note that the seating distance L1 is set as the distance between the sensor unit 15 and the user P1 when the user P1 sits on the toilet seat 11, as shown in FIG. 8. Note that the seating distance L1 may have a predetermined range.

[0042] In step S4, it is determined whether the signal strength is equal to or greater than the seating threshold X1. If the signal strength is less than the seating threshold X1, the process returns to step S1. If the signal strength is equal to or greater than the seating threshold X1, the process proceeds to step S5.

[0043] In step S5, the control unit 17 determines that the state of the user P1 is the first sitting state C1 (corresponding to FIG. 7). That is, when the detection distance is the sitting distance L1 and the signal strength is equal to or greater than the sitting threshold X1, the control unit 17 determines that the state is the first sitting state C1.

[0044] In step S6, it is determined whether the signal strength is equal to or greater than the human presence threshold Y1 after a predetermined time has elapsed. If the signal strength is equal to or greater than the human presence threshold Y1, the process proceeds to step S7. If the signal strength is less than the human presence threshold Y1, the process returns to step S5.

[0045] In step S7, the control unit 17 determines that the state of the user P1 is the second seated state D1 (corresponding to FIG. 8).

[0046] In step S8, it is determined whether the detected distance is the seating distance L1. If the detected distance exceeds the seating distance L1, the process proceeds to step S11. If the detected distance is the seating distance L1, the process proceeds to step S9.

[0047] In step S9, it is determined whether the signal strength is less than the human presence threshold Y1. If it is less than the human presence threshold Y1, the process proceeds to step S10. If it is equal to or greater than the human presence threshold Y1, the process returns to step S7. Note that in the actual second seated state D1, the user P1 is not moving, so the amplitude strength of the Doppler signal is almost 0, and the signal strength often remains slightly higher than the human presence threshold Y1.

[0048] In step S10, it is determined whether the time during which the signal strength is less than the human presence threshold Y1 is equal to or greater than the predetermined time H0. Specifically, the control unit 17 measures the time during which the signal strength is less than the human presence threshold Y1, and if the time is equal to or greater than the predetermined time H0 (since it is certain that the user P1 has left his / her seat), the process proceeds to step S11. That is, if the time is equal to or greater than the predetermined time H0, the control unit 17 determines that the user is in the left-seat state B1. If the time is less than the predetermined time H0, the process returns to step S7. That is, if the time is less than the predetermined time H0, the control unit 17 maintains the determination that the user is in the second seated state D1. Note that the case where the time during which the signal strength is less than the human presence threshold Y1 is less than the predetermined time H0 means that, in the past, the user P1 would be erroneously determined to have left his / her seat because the signal strength became less than the human presence threshold Y1, even though the user P1 is actually seated.

[0049] In step S11, the control unit 17 determines that the state of the user P1 is in the away-from-seat state B1. In the away-from-seat state B1, if the local cleaning device 22 is in use, the control unit 17 stops the supply of cleaning water to the cleaning nozzle 26 and stores the cleaning nozzle 26. In addition, after a certain period of time has elapsed since determining that the user is in the away-from-seat state, the control unit 17 causes the water flushing device 21 to perform a cleaning operation inside the bowl unit 7. When step S11 ends, the process returns to step S1.

[0050] In the first example of Fig. 5, the time H1 during which the signal strength is less than the human presence threshold Y1 is less than the predetermined time H0. Therefore, in step S10 of Fig. 4, it is determined that the state is the second seated state D1. In other words, if the signal strength becomes less than the human presence threshold Y1 after determining that the state is the second seated state D1, and the measurement time is less than the predetermined time H0, the determination that the state is the second seated state D1 is maintained. Therefore, even if the signal strength becomes less than the human presence threshold Y1 despite the user P1 being seated on the toilet seat 11, it is unlikely that the state is erroneously determined to be the unseated state B1.

[0051] In the second example of Fig. 9, the time H2 during which the signal strength is less than the human presence threshold Y1 is equal to or greater than the predetermined time H0, so it is determined that the state is actually the unseated state B1 (corresponding to Fig. 10). In other words, when the signal strength becomes less than the human presence threshold Y1 after determining that the state is the second seated state D1, if the measurement time is equal to or greater than the predetermined time H0, it is correctly determined that the state is the unseated state B1.

[0052] (Modification) The radio wave sensor 5 is not limited to being provided in the toilet seat device 3, but may be provided in the toilet body 2 or the remote control operation device 13.

[0053] (Aspect) The present specification discloses the following aspects.

[0054] The toilet device (1) according to the first aspect includes a toilet body (2), a toilet seat (11), a radio wave sensor (5), and a determination unit (17). The toilet seat (11) is placed on the toilet body (2). The radio wave sensor (5) is set with a seating threshold (X1) and a human presence threshold (Y1) lower than the seating threshold (X1) for the strength of a detected signal. The determination unit (17) determines whether or not the user (P1) is in a seated state (C1, D1) in which the user (P1) is about to sit or is sitting on the toilet seat (11) based on the detected distance to the user (P1) detected by the radio wave sensor (5) and the signal strength. The determination unit (17) determines that the user is in a seated state (C1) when the detected distance is the seating distance (L1) and the signal strength is equal to or greater than the seating threshold (X1). After determining that the state is a seated state (C1), if the detection distance is the seated distance (L1) and the signal strength is equal to or greater than the human presence threshold (Y1), the determination unit (17) maintains the determination that the state is a seated state (D1).

[0055] According to this embodiment, the state of the user (P1) is judged based on both the detection distance and the signal strength, so that the accuracy of the judgment is increased.

[0056] In the toilet apparatus (1) according to the second aspect, in the first aspect, the determination unit (17) can determine whether or not the user (P1) is in a seated state (B1) in which the user (P1) is not seated but is in the toilet apparatus space (SP1). When the signal strength falls below the human presence threshold (Y1) after determining that the user is in the seated state (D1), the determination unit (17) measures the time during which the signal strength was below the human presence threshold (Y1), and if the measured time is less than a predetermined time (H0), maintains the determination that the user is in the seated state (D1), and if the measured time is equal to or greater than the predetermined time (H0), determines that the user is in the seated state (B1).

[0057] According to this aspect, when the signal strength falls below the human presence threshold (Y1) after determining that the user is in the seated state (D1), the determination that the user is in the seated state (D1) is maintained so long as the measurement time is less than the predetermined time (H0). Therefore, even if the signal strength falls below the human presence threshold (Y1) despite the user (P1) being seated on the toilet seat (11), it is unlikely that the user will be erroneously determined to be in the unseated state.

[0058] In the toilet device (1) according to the third aspect, in the second aspect, the judgment unit (17) judges that the seated state (B1) is present when the detection distance exceeds the seated distance (L1) and the signal strength is equal to or greater than the human presence threshold (Y1).

[0059] According to this embodiment, the state of the user (P1) is judged based on both the detection distance and the signal strength, so that the accuracy of the judgment is increased.

[0060] In the toilet apparatus (1) according to the fourth aspect, in the second or third aspect, the determination unit (17) can determine whether or not the toilet apparatus is in an unmanned state (A1) in which the user (P1) is not present in the toilet apparatus space (SP1). When the user is in a seated-away state (B1) and the signal strength falls below the human presence threshold value (Y1), the determination unit (17) determines that the toilet apparatus is in an unmanned state (A1).

[0061] According to this embodiment, the state of the user (P1) is judged based on both the detection distance and the signal strength, so that the accuracy of the judgment is increased. [Explanation of symbols]

[0062] 1: Toilet equipment 5: Radio wave sensor 11: Toilet seat 15: Sensor section 16: Signal processing section 17: Control unit (judgment unit) A1: Unmanned B1: Away from seat C1: First seated position D1: Second seated state H0: Predetermined time L1: Seating distance P1: User SP1: Toilet interior space (toilet bowl space) X1: Sitting threshold Y1: Human presence threshold

Claims

1. The toilet bowl body, A toilet seat placed on the toilet body; a radio wave sensor in which a seating threshold and a human presence threshold lower than the seating threshold are set for a detected signal strength; a determination unit that determines whether the user is in a seated state, that is, about to sit on the toilet seat or is sitting on the toilet seat, based on the detected distance to the user and the signal strength detected by the radio wave sensor, The determination unit is If the detection distance is the seating distance and the signal strength is equal to or greater than the seating threshold, it is determined that the seating state exists; and after determining that the vehicle is in the seated state, if the detection distance is the seated distance and the signal strength is equal to or greater than the human detection threshold, maintaining the determination that the vehicle is in the seated state. Toilet device.

2. The determination unit is It is possible to determine whether the user is not seated but is in the toilet device space and is in a seated state, When the signal strength falls below the human presence threshold after determining that the state is in the seated state, the time during which the signal strength was below the human presence threshold is measured, and if the measured time is less than a predetermined time, the determination that the state is in the seated state is maintained, and if the measured time is equal to or longer than the predetermined time, the state is determined to be in the unseated state.

2. The toilet apparatus of claim 1.

3. The determination unit determines that the seated state occurs when the detection distance exceeds the seated distance and the signal strength is equal to or greater than the human presence threshold.

3. The toilet apparatus of claim 2.

4. The determination unit is It is possible to determine whether the user is not in the toilet device space and the toilet device space is unoccupied, When the signal strength becomes less than the human presence threshold in the unattended state, the unattended state is determined. A toilet device according to claim 2 or 3.

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