Animal management device, animal toilet, animal management method and program

Abstract

To provide a device for discriminating whether animal excrement is urine or feces and managing it.SOLUTION: A management device comprises: an acquisition unit for acquiring a signal output from a sensor including a sensitive part that physically changes in response to at least one substance generated from animal excrement and outputs a signal corresponding to the physical change during a detection period from when the sensor switches from a first state where the sensor is not exposed to the at least one substance to a second state where the sensor is exposed to the at least one substance until the sensor switches from the second state to the first state again; an estimation unit for estimating information relating to at least one of a type and a state of the animal excrement on the basis of the signal and relation information representing a relation between a feature amount of a waveform of the signal and the animal excrement; and an output unit for outputting an estimation result by the estimation unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an animal management device, an animal toilet, an animal management method, and a program.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an automatic deodorizing fragrance injection device equipped with a smell sensor and an odor sensor. [Prior Art Document] [Patent Document] [Patent Document 1] JP 2023-005970

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0003] It is desired to discriminate whether the excrement of an animal is urine or feces and manage it.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0004] An animal management device according to an aspect of the present invention includes a sensor having a sensitive portion that physically changes in response to at least one substance generated from the excrement of an animal and outputs a signal corresponding to the physical change. An acquisition unit that acquires a signal output from the sensor in a detection period from a first state in which the sensor is not exposed to the at least one substance to a second state in which the sensor is exposed to the at least one substance and then back to the first state may be provided. The animal management device may include an estimation unit that estimates information regarding at least one of the type and state of the excrement of the animal based on relationship information indicating the relationship between the feature amount of the waveform of the signal and the excrement of the animal and the signal. The animal management device may include an output unit that outputs the estimation result by the estimation unit.

[0005] In the animal management device, the sensor may be provided in an animal toilet that stores the excrement of the animal. The animal toilet may have a deodorizing function of injecting either a deodorant for feces or a deodorant for urine. The animal management device may further include a deodorizing control unit that causes either a deodorant for feces or a deodorant for urine to be injected into the deodorizing function based on the estimation result.

[0006] In any of the animal management devices, the sensor may be provided in an animal toilet that stores the excrement of the animal. The animal toilet may have sand or a sheet that absorbs urine. The output unit may output a message prompting replacement of the sand or the sheet when the estimation result indicates urine. When the estimation result indicates feces, a message prompting removal of the feces may be output.

[0007] In any of the animal management devices, the sensor may be provided in an animal toilet that stores the excrement of the animal. The animal toilet may have a roll-shaped sheet that absorbs urine and a winding function for winding up the roll-shaped sheet. The animal management device may further include a winding control unit that controls the winding function to wind up the roll-shaped sheet when the estimation result indicates urine. The output unit may output a message prompting removal of the feces when the estimation result indicates feces.

[0008] Any of the animal management devices may further include a generation unit that generates history information of the estimation result and stores it in a storage unit.

[0009] In any of the animal management devices, the sensor may have a plurality of sensitive parts with different characteristics of physical changes corresponding to at least one substance generated from the excrement. The acquisition unit may acquire a plurality of signals output from each of the plurality of sensitive parts during the detection period. The estimation unit may estimate information regarding at least one of the type and state of the excrement of the animal based on the relationship information indicating the combination of the feature amounts of the waveforms of at least two of the plurality of signals and the plurality of signals.

[0010] In any of the above animal management devices, the sensing unit may include a sensing film that deforms by adsorbing at least one of the substances and diffusing them therein.

[0011] In any of the above animal management devices, the sensing film may include an organic-inorganic hybrid material.

[0012] In any of the above animal management devices, the feature quantity of the waveform of the signal may include at least one of the amplitudes of a plurality of divided waveforms obtained by dividing the waveform of the signal at predetermined intervals, the sum of the amplitudes of the plurality of divided waveforms, the change rate of each of the amplitudes of the plurality of divided waveforms, the sum of the change rates of each of the amplitudes of the plurality of divided waveforms, and the average value of the change rates of each of the amplitudes of the plurality of divided waveforms.

[0013] In any of the above animal management devices, the combination of the feature quantities of the waveforms of the at least two signals may include at least one of the ratios of the amplitudes of the plurality of divided waveforms of each of the at least two signals obtained by dividing the waveforms of the at least two signals at predetermined intervals, the ratios of the total values of the amplitudes of the plurality of divided waveforms of each of the at least two signals, the ratios of the change rates of the amplitudes of the plurality of divided waveforms of each of the at least two signals, the ratios of the sums of the change rates of the amplitudes of the plurality of divided waveforms of each of the at least two signals, and the ratios of the average values of the amplitudes of the plurality of divided waveforms of each of the at least two signals.

[0014] In any of the above animal management devices, the acquisition unit may further acquire environmental information from a sensor that detects the environmental state around the excrement. The estimation unit may further estimate information regarding at least one of the type and state of the excrement of the animal based on the environmental information.

[0015] In any of the above animal management devices, the estimation unit may further estimate the physical condition of the animal based on the waveform of the signal.

[0016] The toilet for animals according to one aspect of the present invention includes any one of the animal management devices, the sensor, and a switching mechanism that communicates with the inner space of the container for storing the excrement and switches between the first state in which the sensor is not exposed to the at least one substance and the second state in which the sensor is exposed to the at least one substance.

[0017] In the toilet for animals, the switching mechanism may include a first pipe communicating with the inner space of the container, a second pipe communicating with the outer space of the container, and a third pipe that can be switched to communicate with one of the first pipe and the second pipe. The sensor may be disposed in the third pipe. When the third pipe communicates with the second pipe, the sensor may be in the first state, and when the third pipe communicates with the first pipe, the sensor may be in the second state.

[0018] The animal management method according to one aspect of the present invention includes a step in which an acquisition unit acquires a signal output from a sensor having a sensitive part that physically changes in response to at least one substance generated from animal excrement and outputs a signal corresponding to the physical change, from the first state in which the sensor is not exposed to the at least one substance to the second state in which the sensor is exposed to the at least one substance, and until it switches back from the second state to the first state again during a detection period. The animal management method may include a step in which an estimation unit estimates information regarding at least one of the type and state of the animal excrement based on relationship information indicating the relationship between the feature amount of the waveform of the signal and the animal excrement and the signal. The animal management method may include a step in which an output unit outputs the estimation result at the stage of the estimation.

[0019] A program according to an aspect of the present invention may cause a computer to function as an acquisition unit that acquires a signal output from a sensor having a sensing unit that physically changes in response to at least one substance generated from animal excrement and outputs a signal corresponding to the physical change, during a detection period from when the sensor switches from a first state in which it is not exposed to the at least one substance to a second state in which it is exposed to the at least one substance until it switches back from the second state to the first state again. The program may cause the computer to function as an estimation unit that estimates information regarding at least one of the type and state of the animal excrement based on relationship information indicating the relationship between the feature amount of the signal waveform and the animal excrement and the signal. The program may cause the computer to function as an output unit that outputs the estimation result by the estimation unit.

[0020] Note that the above summary of the invention does not enumerate all the features of the present invention. Also, sub-combinations of these feature groups may also be inventions.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0021]

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Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0022] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described through embodiments of the invention. However, the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims. Also, not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are essential for the solution means of the invention.

[0023] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of an animal toilet system according to the present embodiment. The animal toilet system includes an animal toilet 10 and a communication terminal 200. The animal toilet 10 is used to accommodate excrement of animals raised as pets such as dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, etc.

[0024] The animal toilet 10 includes a container 20 for accommodating the excrement of the animal and a sheet 12 for absorbing liquids such as the urine of the animal. The animal toilet 10 may include a roll-shaped sheet 12. The sheet 12 may be, for example, a sheet containing a polymer absorbent material.

[0025] The animal toilet 10 may include a winding function 150 for automatically winding up the roll-shaped sheet 12. In the present embodiment, an example in which the animal toilet 10 has the winding function 150 will be described, but the animal toilet 10 may not have the winding function 150. When the animal toilet 10 does not have the winding function 150, the sheet 12 may be manually replaced by a user such as the owner.

[0026] Instead of or in addition to the sheet 12, the animal toilet 10 may accommodate sand in the container 20 that absorbs or permeates liquids such as urine. The sand may be, for example, bentonite that can cover feces and absorb liquids, wood or paper with a water-repellent coating, or zeolite, silica gel, minerals, etc. with deodorizing power, formed into substantially spherical shapes with a diameter of about several mm to several cm.

[0027] The animal toilet 10 is provided with a deodorizing function 140. The deodorizing function 140 injects a deodorant for eliminating the odor of excrement into the container 20. The deodorizing function 140 has an aerosol container filled with a deodorant diluted with water or an ethanol aqueous solution together with a propellant (spray gas) such as LPG and carbon dioxide. The deodorizing function 140 may have a feces aerosol container enclosing a feces deodorant that effectively deodorizes the odor of feces and a urine aerosol container enclosing a urine deodorant that effectively deodorizes the odor of urine. The feces deodorant may contain, for example, at least one of vanillin, methyl dihydrojasmonate, α-hexyl cinnamaldehyde, benzyl benzoate, galaxolide, coumarin, citronellol, and borneol. The urine deodorant may contain, for example, at least one of citric acid, benzalkonium chloride, and hypochlorous acid water.

[0028] The animal toilet 10 is provided with a communication function 130. The communication function 130 has a function of wirelessly communicating with other devices. The communication function 130 communicates with other devices by short-range wireless such as Bluetooth (registered trademark), WiFi, or long-range wireless such as LTE and the fifth-generation mobile communication system (5G).

[0029] The communication terminal 200 communicates with the animal toilet 10. The communication terminal 200 may be a mobile terminal such as a smartphone or a tablet. The communication terminal 200 may communicate with the animal toilet 10 wirelessly. The communication terminal 200 may communicate with the animal toilet 10 by short-range wireless such as Bluetooth (registered trademark), WiFi, or long-range wireless such as LTE and the fifth-generation mobile communication system (5G). The communication terminal 200 may receive information about the animal using the animal toilet 10 and information about the use of the animal toilet 10 by the animal from the animal toilet 10.

[0030] The animal toilet 10 is provided with a sensor 50. The sensor 50 may be a so-called olfactory sensor. The animal toilet 10 is provided with an animal management device 100 that discriminates whether the excrement of the animal is urine or feces based on the detection result of the sensor 50 and uses the discrimination result for the management of the animal's excretion treatment. In the present embodiment, an example in which the animal toilet 10 incorporates the animal management device 100 will be described. However, the animal management device 100 may be provided outside the animal toilet 10 and acquire the detection result from the sensor 50 by communicating with the sensor 50 by wire or wirelessly.

[0031] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a functional block of the animal toilet 10. The animal toilet 10 includes an animal management device 100, a switching mechanism 30, a sensor 50, a communication function 130, a deodorizing function 140, and a winding function 150.

[0032] A switching mechanism 30 is connected to the container 20 of the animal toilet 10. The switching mechanism 30 has a pipe 31 communicating with the internal space of the container 20, a pipe 32 communicating with the external space of the container 20, and a pipe 33 connected to the pipes 31 and 32 via a switching valve 34 and communicating with either one of the pipes 31 and 32. The gas existing in the internal space of the container 20 passes through the pipe 31. The gas existing in the external space of the container 20 passes through the pipe 32. The gas existing in the internal space of the container 20 contains at least one substance generated from the object. The gas existing in the internal space of the container 20 contains the gas generated from the excrement of the animal. The gas existing in the external space of the container 20 is air. The external space of the container 20 is the space on the outer wall side of the container 20. The internal space of the container 20 is the space on the inner wall side of the container 20 and may be the space for the container 20 to accommodate excrement.

[0033] The gases generated by the excrement are, for example, indole, skatole, ammonia, cadaverine, phenylethylamine, trimethylamine, hydrogen sulfide, methyl mercaptan, dimethyl disulfide, isovaleric acid, normal valeric acid, propionic acid, normal butyric acid, 3-mercapto-3-methyl-1-butanol, acetaldehyde, etc.

[0034] The types and amounts of gases generated differ depending on whether the excrement is urine or feces. Therefore, it is possible to estimate the type of excrement by identifying at least one of the type and amount of the generated gas.

[0035] The sensor 50 is provided inside the pipe 33 and detects the gas passing through the pipe 33. The configuration of the switching mechanism 30 shown above is just an example. The switching mechanism 30 may be any mechanism as long as it can switch between a non-detection state (first state) in which the sensor 50 is not exposed to at least one substance generated by excrement and a detection state (second state) in which the sensor 50 is exposed to at least one substance generated by excrement. The switching mechanism 30 may have an injection part that purges the gas around the sensor 50 by injecting air inside the pipe 33.

[0036] The switching mechanism 30 may include a shielding part such as a lid that switches between a state in which the sensor 50 is exposed to the space inside the container 20 and a state in which the sensor 50 is not exposed to the space inside the container 20. For example, the switching mechanism 30 leaves the lid open and exposes the sensor 50 to the space inside the container 20, and continues this state until the animal excretes. This state may be regarded as the first state. Then, when a change occurs in the waveform of the signal of the sensor 50, for example, when the change rate of the signal of the sensor 50 becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, the sensor 50 enters the second state. After that, when a predetermined period has elapsed, the switching mechanism 30 may return the sensor 50 to the first state by closing the exposed part of the sensor 50 with the lid.

[0037] The sensor 50 may be a surface stress sensor that functions as an olfactory sensor. The surface stress sensor has a sensitive part that physically changes in response to at least one substance generated from excrement and outputs a signal corresponding to the physical change. The sensitive part includes a sensitive film that deforms when at least one substance adsorbs and diffuses inside. The sensitive film may include an organic-inorganic hybrid material.

[0038] From the viewpoints of sensitivity and stability in a humid environment, the organic-inorganic hybrid is RSiO 3 / 2It includes a structure represented by, where "R" represents an organic functional group.

[0039] In this embodiment, it is preferable that the organic functional group contains one or more aromatic rings (aromatic ring structures). When an aromatic ring is included, the moisture resistance tends to be further improved. The aromatic ring is not particularly limited because it can be appropriately selected in consideration of the use of the sensor and the like. For example, aromatic hydrocarbon groups such as phenyl group, naphthyl group, p-tolyl group, biphenyl group, substituted aromatic hydrocarbon groups such as 4-chlorophenyl group, 4-methoxyphenyl group, 4-aminophenyl group, pentafluorophenyl group, heterocyclic hydrocarbon groups such as 3-furyl group, 3-thienyl group, 2-pyridyl group, 3-pyridyl group, 4-pyridyl group, and metallocenes such as ferrocenyl group can be mentioned. The organic functional group in this embodiment may contain one of the above-mentioned aromatic rings alone or two or more thereof in combination.

[0040] An environmental sensor 40 may be provided in the container 20. The environmental sensor 40 detects the environmental state inside the container 20. The environmental sensor 40 may detect temperature and humidity as the environmental state inside the container 20 and provide environmental information including temperature information and humidity information to the animal management device 100.

[0041] The animal management device 100 includes a control unit 110 and a storage unit 120. The control unit 110 may be composed of a central processing unit (CPU).

[0042] The animal management device 100 may be composed of a computer. The computer may be a small computer equipped with a microprocessor. The computer may be a dedicated computer designed for the processing of the animal management device 100, or may be dedicated hardware realized by a dedicated circuit. The computer may be implemented in a virtual computer environment. When a computer is used, the animal management device 100 is realized by executing a program on the computer.

[0043] The control unit 110 includes an acquisition unit 112, an estimation unit 114, an output unit 116, a deodorization control unit 117, a winding control unit 118, and a generation unit 119. The acquisition unit 112 acquires a signal output from the sensor 50 during a detection period from when the sensor 50 switches from a non-detection state in which it is not exposed to at least one substance generated from excrement to a detection state in which it is exposed to at least one substance until it switches back from the detection state to the non-detection state.

[0044] The sensor 50 may have a plurality of sensitive parts with different characteristics of physical changes corresponding to at least one substance generated from excrement. The plurality of sensitive parts may have a plurality of sensitive films with different characteristics. The sensor 50 may have a plurality of channels for outputting signals from each of the plurality of sensitive parts.

[0045] As described above, the types and amounts of gases generated differ depending on whether the excrement of the animal is urine or feces. Therefore, the signals output from the plurality of channels of the sensor 50 also differ. That is, the characteristic amounts of the waveforms of the respective signals differ depending on the type of the animal's excrement, that is, whether it is urine or feces. Therefore, if relationship information in which the relationship between the characteristic amount of the signal waveform and the type of excrement is associated in advance is generated, it is possible to estimate whether the excrement is urine or feces from the characteristic amount of the signal waveform. Also, the types and amounts of gases generated differ depending on the state of the animal's excrement. Therefore, the signals output from the plurality of channels of the sensor 50 also differ. That is, the characteristic amounts of the waveforms of the respective signals differ depending on the state of the animal's excrement. Therefore, if relationship information in which the relationship between the characteristic amount of the signal waveform and the state of the excrement is associated in advance is generated, it is possible to estimate the state of the excrement from the characteristic amount of the signal waveform. Here, the state of the excrement is, for example, the hardness or odor of the excrement.

[0046] Therefore, the estimation unit 114 estimates information regarding at least one of the type and state of the animal's excrement based on the relationship information indicating the relationship between the feature amount of the signal waveform and the animal's excrement and the signal. The estimation unit 114 may estimate information regarding at least one of the type and state of the animal's excrement based on the relationship information indicating the relationship between the feature amount of the signal waveform and the type and state of the animal's excrement and the signal. The estimation unit 114 may estimate whether the excrement is feces or urine based on the relationship information indicating the relationship between the feature amount of the signal waveform and the animal's feces and the relationship between the feature amount of the signal waveform and the animal's urine and the signal from the sensor 50. The estimation unit 114 may estimate whether the excrement is feces or urine based on the relationship information indicating the relationship between at least two feature amounts of the signal waveform and the feces and the relationship between at least two feature amounts of the signal waveform and the urine and the signal from the sensor 50. The estimation unit 114 may estimate the state of the excrement based on the relationship information indicating the relationship between the feature amount of the signal waveform and the state of the animal's excrement and the signal from the sensor 50. The estimation unit 114 may estimate the state of the excrement based on the relationship information indicating the relationship between at least two feature amounts of the signal waveform and the state of the animal's excrement and the signal from the sensor 50. The feature amount of the signal waveform may include at least one of the amplitudes of a plurality of divided waveforms obtained by dividing the signal waveform at predetermined intervals, the sum of the amplitudes of the plurality of divided waveforms, the change rates of the amplitudes of the plurality of divided waveforms, the sum of the change rates of the amplitudes of the plurality of divided waveforms, and the average value of the change rates of the amplitudes of the plurality of divided waveforms. The amplitude of the divided waveform corresponds to the signal intensity at the time corresponding to the divided waveform of the signal.

[0047] FIG. 3 shows an example of the waveform of the signal output from one channel (channel 1) of the sensor 50. The estimation unit 114 may derive the amplitudes s1 to s5 of the plurality of divided waveforms by dividing the waveform of the signal S1 at a predetermined interval t. The estimation unit 114 may derive the sum (s1 + s2 + s3 + s4 + s5 = s_total) of the amplitudes s1 to s5 of the plurality of divided waveforms. The estimation unit 114 may derive the change rates (s2 - s1) / t = Δs1, (s3 - s2) / t = Δs2, (s4 - s3) / t = Δs3, (s5 - s4) / t = Δs4 of the amplitudes s1 to s5 of the plurality of divided waveforms. The estimation unit 114 may derive the sum (Δs1 + Δs2 + Δs3 + Δs4) of the change rates of the amplitudes of the plurality of divided waveforms. The estimation unit 114 may derive the average value ((Δs1 + Δs2 + Δs3 + Δs4) / 4) of the change rates of the amplitudes of the plurality of divided waveforms.

[0048] The acquisition unit 112 may acquire a plurality of signals output from each of the plurality of sensitive parts during the detection period. The estimation unit 114 may estimate whether the excrement is feces or urine based on the relationship between the combination of the feature amounts of the waveforms of at least two signals among the plurality of signals and animal feces, the relationship information indicating the relationship between the combination of the feature amounts of the waveforms of at least two signals among the plurality of signals and animal urine, and the plurality of signals. The estimation unit 114 may further estimate whether the excrement of the animal is feces or urine based on the environmental information from the environmental sensor 40. Since the amount of gas generated from the excrement may vary depending on the ambient temperature or humidity, etc., the estimation unit 114 can further improve the estimation accuracy by estimating whether the excrement is feces or urine based on the environmental information. The estimation unit 114 may estimate whether the excrement of the animal is feces or urine based on the relationship information corresponding to at least one of the temperature and the humidity.

[0049] The combination of the feature quantities of the waveforms of at least two signals may include at least one of the ratios of the amplitudes of the respective plurality of divided waveforms of at least two signals obtained by dividing the waveforms of at least two signals at a predetermined interval t, the ratios of the total values of the amplitudes of the respective plurality of divided waveforms of at least two signals, the ratios of the change rates of the amplitudes of the respective plurality of divided waveforms of at least two signals, the ratios of the total change rates of the amplitudes of the respective plurality of divided waveforms of at least two signals, and the ratios of the average values of the amplitudes of the respective plurality of divided waveforms of at least two signals.

[0050] FIG. 4 shows an example of the waveform of the signal S2 output from another channel (channel 2) of the sensor 50. The estimation unit 114 may derive, for example, the ratios (s1 / m1, s2 / m2, s3 / m3, s4 / m4, s5 / m5) of the amplitudes s1 to s5 of the divided waveform of the signal S1 in channel 1 in FIG. 3 and the amplitudes m1 to m5 of the divided waveform of the signal S2 in channel 2 in FIG. 4. The estimation unit 114 may derive the ratio (s_total / m_total) of the sum (s1 + s2 + s3 + s4 + s5 = s_total) of the amplitudes s1 to s5 of the divided waveform of the signal S1 and the sum (m1 + m2 + m3 + m4 + m5 = m_total) of the amplitudes m1 to m5 of the divided waveform of the signal 2. The estimation unit 114 may derive the ratios (Δs1 / Δm1, Δs2 / Δm2, Δs3 / Δm3, Δs4 / Δm4) of the change rates (Δs1, Δs2, Δs3, Δs4) of the respective amplitudes s1 to s5 of the divided waveform of the signal S1 and the change rates (Δm1, Δm2, Δm3, Δm4) of the respective amplitudes m1 to m5 of the divided waveform of the signal S2. The estimation unit 114 may derive the ratio (s_total / m_total) of the average value (s_total / 4) of the amplitudes s1 to s5 of the divided waveform of the signal S1 and the average value (m_total / 4) of the respective amplitudes m1 to m5 of the divided waveform of the signal S2.

[0051] FIG. 5 is an example of the waveform of the signal S3 output from yet another channel (channel 3) of the sensor 50.

[0052] When a signal S3 is further output from another one channel (channel 3) of the sensor 50, in addition to the combination of the feature amounts of the waveforms of the signals S1 and S2, the estimation unit 114 may derive, for the combination of the feature amounts of the waveforms of the signals S1 and S3 and the combination of the feature amounts of the waveforms of the signals S2 and S3, respectively, the ratio of the amplitudes, the ratio of the total amplitudes, the ratio of the change rates of the amplitudes, the ratio of the total change rates of the amplitudes, and the ratio of the average values of the amplitudes.

[0053] The estimation unit 114 may estimate whether the excrement is feces or urine based on the relationship between the combination of a plurality of feature amounts of the waveform of one signal and animal feces, the relationship information indicating the relationship between the combination of a plurality of feature amounts of the waveform of one signal and animal urine, and the signal. Alternatively, the estimation unit 114 may estimate whether the excrement is feces or urine based on the relationship between the combination of a plurality of feature amounts of the waveforms of at least two signals and animal feces, the relationship information indicating the relationship between the combination of a plurality of feature amounts of the waveforms of at least two signals and animal urine, and at least two signals. The estimation unit 114 may estimate the state of the excrement based on the relationship between the combination of a plurality of feature amounts of the waveform of one signal and the state of animal excrement, the relationship information indicating the relationship, and the signal. Alternatively, the estimation unit 114 may estimate the state of the excrement based on the relationship between the combination of a plurality of feature amounts of the waveforms of at least two signals and the state of animal excrement, the relationship information indicating the relationship, and at least two signals.

[0054] As described above, the estimation unit 114 derives a plurality of parameters indicating the features of the waveforms of one or more signals, and estimates whether the excrement is feces or urine and the state of the excrement based on the combination of the respective parameters. Thereby, the type of the excrement can be estimated with higher accuracy than estimating the type and state of the excrement based on one parameter for one signal.

[0055] The estimation unit 114 may estimate the type and state of excrement by using a learning model generated by supervised learning as relationship information indicating the relationship between the feature amount of the signal waveform and animal feces, and the relationship between the feature amount of the signal waveform and animal urine, or the relationship between the combination of the feature amounts of the waveforms of at least two signals among a plurality of signals and animal feces, and the relationship between the combination of the feature amounts of the waveforms of at least two signals among a plurality of signals and animal urine.

[0056] The estimation unit 114 performs machine learning according to the algorithm of supervised learning, using the feature amount of the signal waveform, at least two feature amounts of the signal waveform, or a plurality of combinations of the feature amounts of the waveforms of two signals as explanatory variables, and the type and state of excrement as objective variables, thereby generating a learned learning model for estimating the type and state of excrement from the feature amount of the signal waveform or a plurality of combinations of the feature amounts of the waveforms of two signals, and storing it in the storage unit 120. The algorithm may be an algorithm of any method such as a neural network, a support vector machine, multiple regression analysis, or a decision tree.

[0057] The estimation unit 114 may estimate the physical condition of the pet based on the waveform of the signal output from the sensor 50. The estimation unit 114 may estimate the state of the animal's excrement based on the relationship information indicating the relationship between the feature amount of the waveform of the signal and the state of the animal's excrement, and the signal output from the sensor 50, and estimate the physical condition of the pet based on the estimated state of the animal's excrement. The state of the excrement may be the smell, hardness, etc. of the excrement. The estimation unit 114 may estimate, for example, whether there is an abnormality in the physical condition of the pet based on the waveform of the signal output from the sensor 50. When the estimation unit 114 detects a waveform derived from a specific compound in the signal, it may estimate that there is an abnormality in the physical condition of the pet. When the estimation unit 114 estimates that there is an abnormality in the physical condition of the pet, it may output a message or the like notifying the abnormality in the physical condition of the pet. The estimation unit 114 compares the waveform of the signal output from the sensor 50 with the waveform of the signal when a specific compound contained in feces or urine is included when an abnormality in the physical condition of the pet occurs and is stored in the storage unit 120 in advance, and when the similarity of the waveforms to each other is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value, it may estimate that the physical condition of the pet is abnormal. The estimation unit 114 may derive the similarity of the waveforms according to a method such as the Euclidean distance, Manhattan distance, Chebyshev distance, cosine similarity, Jaccard coefficient, or Dice coefficient. Alternatively, the estimation unit 114 determines whether the waveform of the signal output from the sensor 50 is included in the range of the waveform of the signal when the physical condition of the pet is normal and stored in the storage unit 120 in advance, and when the waveform of the signal output from the sensor 50 is not included in the range of the waveform of the signal, it may estimate that the physical condition of the pet is abnormal. When the waveform of the signal output from the sensor 50 is not included in the range of the waveform of the signal defined in advance according to a method (for example, one-class SVM) that signifies the boundary of normal data, a method (for example, Hotelling's T2 method) that defines the range of normal data on the premise that the waveform data follows a normal distribution, etc., the estimation unit 114 may estimate that the physical condition of the pet is abnormal.

[0058] The output unit 116 outputs the estimation result by the estimation unit 114. The output unit 116 outputs information indicating whether the excrement is urine or feces as the estimation result by the estimation unit 114. When the estimation result indicates urine, the output unit 116 may output a message prompting the replacement of the sand or the sheet 12. When the estimation result indicates feces, the output unit 116 may output a message prompting the removal of feces. The output unit 116 may output a message prompting the replacement of the sand or the sheet 12, or a message prompting the removal of feces to the communication terminal 200 via the communication function 130. For example, the owner can grasp the message via the communication terminal 200. Therefore, the replacement of the sheet 12 or the treatment of feces can be performed immediately.

[0059] Based on the estimation result, the deodorization control unit 117 causes either the deodorant for feces or the deodorant for urine to be sprayed onto the deodorization function 140. When the estimation result indicates feces, the deodorization control unit 117 operates the feces aerosol container filled with the deodorant for feces to spray the deodorant for feces into the container 20 onto the deodorization function 140. When the estimation result indicates urine, the deodorization control unit 117 operates the urine aerosol container filled with the deodorant for urine to spray the deodorant for urine into the container 20 onto the deodorization function 140. Thereby, since an appropriate deodorant is sprayed in response to the excretion of feces or urine, deodorization can be performed more effectively.

[0060] When the estimation result indicates urine, the winding control unit 118 controls the winding function 150 to wind up the roll-shaped sheet 12. The winding function 150 has a motor that rotates the core around which the sheet 12 is wound, and by operating the motor, the sheet 12 is wound up by a certain amount.

[0061] The generation unit 119 generates history information of the estimation result and stores it in the storage unit 120. The history information stored in the storage unit 120 can be referred to from the communication terminal 200 or the like. The history information may include the date and time when the animal excreted feces or urine. By referring to the history information, health management using the history of the animal's excrement can be performed.

[0062] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a procedure for estimating the type of animal excrement. The acquisition unit 112 controls the switching valve 34 of the switching mechanism 30 to switch the sensor 50 from a non-detection state exposed to the outside air outside the container 20 to a detection state exposed to the inside air inside the container 20 (S100).

[0063] The animal management device 100 starts detecting the inside air of the container 20 with the sensor 50 (S102). The acquisition unit 112 controls the switching valve 34 of the switching mechanism 30 to switch the sensor 50 from a detection state exposed to the inside air inside the container 20 to a non-detection state exposed to the outside air outside the container 20 (S104). Next, the acquisition unit 112 acquires each signal detected during the detection period in the detection state from each channel of the sensor 50 (S106).

[0064] The estimation unit 114 derives the feature amount of the waveform of each signal (S108). The estimation unit 114 estimates whether the excrement is feces or urine based on the feature amount of the waveform of each signal and the relationship information (S110). The control unit 110 activates at least one of the deodorizing function 140, the winding function 150, and the communication function 130 according to the estimation result (S112).

[0065] When the excrement is urine, the deodorizing function 140 may inject a deodorant for urine into the container 20. Also, the winding function 150 may wind up the roll-shaped sheet 12 by a certain amount. Alternatively, the communication function 130 may transmit a message prompting the replacement of the sheet 12 to the communication terminal 200.

[0066] When the excrement is feces, the deodorizing function 140 may inject a deodorant for feces into the container 20. Also, the communication function 130 may transmit a message prompting the treatment of feces to the communication terminal 200.

[0067] FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B are flowcharts showing an example of a procedure for deriving feature amounts of respective signals. The relationship information used by the estimation unit 114 for estimating the type of excrement may vary depending on, for example, the type of animal. Therefore, the estimation unit 114 specifies the types of feature amounts of the respective waveforms of the respective signals shown in association with the type of excrement for use in estimating the type of excrement according to the type of target animal. The type of animal may be input by the user. When the animal toilet 10 has a built-in camera, the estimation unit 114 may determine the type of animal by image recognition using an image captured by the camera.

[0068] The estimation unit 114 acquires, via the acquisition unit 112, the respective signals of each channel with respect to the gas in the container 20 (S200). The estimation unit 114 determines whether to derive each amplitude of each signal based on the types of feature amounts of the respective signals that have been specified (S202).

[0069] If each amplitude is to be derived, the estimation unit 114 generates a feature amount group yc1 by deriving each amplitude of each signal at each interval t (S204).

[0070] Next, the estimation unit 114 determines whether to derive the total value of each amplitude of each signal based on the types of feature amounts of the respective signals that have been specified (S206). If the total value of each amplitude is to be derived, the estimation unit 114 generates a feature amount group yc2 by deriving the total value of each amplitude of each signal at each interval t (S208).

[0071] Next, the estimation unit 114 determines whether to derive the inter-channel ratio of each amplitude of each signal based on the types of feature amounts of the respective signals that have been specified (S210). If the inter-channel ratio of each amplitude is to be derived, the estimation unit 114 generates a feature amount group yc3 by deriving the inter-channel ratio of each amplitude of each signal at each interval t (S212).

[0072] Next, based on the types of the feature quantities of the identified respective signals, it is determined whether to derive the inter-channel ratio of the total value of each amplitude of each signal (S214). If it is to derive the inter-channel ratio of the total value of each amplitude, the estimation unit 114 generates a feature quantity group yc4 by deriving the inter-channel ratio of the total value of each amplitude of each signal for each interval t (S216).

[0073] Next, the estimation unit 114 determines whether to derive the change rate of each amplitude of each signal based on the types of the feature quantities of the identified respective signals (S218). If it is to derive the change rate of each amplitude of each signal, the estimation unit 114 generates a feature quantity yc5 by deriving the change rate of each amplitude of each signal for each interval t (S220).

[0074] Next, the estimation unit 114 determines whether to derive the total value of the change rates of each amplitude of each signal based on the types of the feature quantities of the identified respective signals (S222). If it is to derive the total value of the change rates of each amplitude of each signal, the estimation unit 114 generates a feature quantity group yc6 by deriving the total value of the change rate of each amplitude for each interval t (S224).

[0075] Next, the estimation unit 114 determines whether to derive the average value of the change rates of each amplitude of each signal based on the types of the feature quantities of the identified respective signals (S226). If it is to derive the average value of the change rates of each amplitude of each signal, the estimation unit 114 generates a feature quantity group yc7 by deriving the average value of the change rate for each interval t (S228).

[0076] Next, the estimation unit 114 determines whether to derive the average value and the standard deviation of the temperature based on the types of the feature quantities of the identified respective signals (S230). If it is to derive the average value and the standard deviation of the temperature, the estimation unit 114 acquires temperature information indicating the temperature inside the container 20, and generates a feature quantity group yt1, yt2, yt3 by deriving the temperature, the average value of the temperature, and the standard deviation of the temperature for each interval t (S232).

[0077] Next, the estimation unit 114 determines whether to derive the average value and standard deviation of the humidity based on the types of the feature amounts of the identified respective signals (S234). If it is to derive the average value and standard deviation of the humidity, the estimation unit 114 acquires humidity information indicating the humidity inside the container 20, and derives the humidity, the average value of the humidity, and the standard deviation of the humidity at intervals of t, thereby generating the feature amount groups yh1, yh2, and yh3 (S236).

[0078] From the above processing, the estimation unit 114 derives the feature amount groups used for estimating the excrement. Note that the types and derivation order of the feature amount groups shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B are merely examples.

[0079] According to the animal management device 100 according to the present embodiment, based on the relationship information indicating the relationship between the feature amount of the waveform of the signal, at least two feature amounts of the waveform of the signal, or the combination of the feature amounts of the waveforms of two signals and the type of the excrement, and the feature amount of the waveform of at least one signal output from the sensor, it is possible to accurately estimate the type of the excrement, that is, whether it is feces or urine, and the state of the excrement.

[0080] According to the animal management device 100 according to the present embodiment, the user can be immediately informed of whether the excrement excreted by the pet is feces or urine and the state of the excrement. Thereby, it is possible to appropriately prompt the user to process the excrement. In addition, an appropriate deodorant can be automatically sprayed according to the type of the excrement. Therefore, deodorization can be performed more effectively according to the type of the excrement. In addition, since it is possible to accurately identify that the excrement is urine, when the animal toilet includes the roll-up sheet 12, it is possible to prevent the sheet 12 from being rolled up at inappropriate timings such as when there is no excrement or when the excrement is feces. And when the excrement is urine, the sheet 12 can be rolled up at an appropriate timing. Furthermore, the physical condition of the pet can be managed based on the state of the excrement.

[0081] FIG. 8 shows an example of a computer 1200 in which multiple aspects of the present invention may be embodied, in whole or in part. Programs installed on the computer 1200 can cause the computer 1200 to perform operations associated with the apparatus according to embodiments of the present invention or to function as one or more "parts" of the apparatus. Alternatively, the program can cause the computer 1200 to execute the operations or the one or more "parts". The program can cause the computer 1200 to execute a process according to embodiments of the present invention or a stage of the process. Such a program may be executed by the CPU 1212 to cause the computer 1200 to perform certain operations associated with some or all of the blocks of the flowcharts and block diagrams described herein.

[0082] The computer 1200 according to the present embodiment includes a CPU 1212 and a RAM 1214, which are interconnected by a host controller 1210. The computer 1200 also includes a communication interface 1222 and an input / output unit, which are connected to the host controller 1210 via an input / output controller 1220. The computer 1200 also includes a ROM 1230. The CPU 1212 operates according to programs stored in the ROM 1230 and the RAM 1214, thereby controlling each unit.

[0083] The communication interface 1222 communicates with other electronic devices via a network. A hard disk drive may store programs and data used by the CPU 1212 in the computer 1200. The ROM 1230 stores therein a boot program and the like executed by the computer 1200 when activated, and / or a program dependent on the hardware of the computer 1200. Programs are provided via a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a USB memory, or an IC card, or via a network. The programs are installed in the RAM 1214, which is also an example of a computer-readable recording medium, or in the ROM 1230, and executed by the CPU 1212. The information processing described in these programs is read by the computer 1200, resulting in the cooperation between the programs and the various types of hardware resources described above. The device or method may be configured by realizing the operation or processing of information according to the use of the computer 1200.

[0084] For example, when communication is executed between the computer 1200 and an external device, the CPU 1212 may execute a communication program loaded in the RAM 1214 and instruct the communication interface 1222 to perform communication processing based on the processing described in the communication program. Under the control of the CPU 1212, the communication interface 1222 reads the transmission data stored in the transmission buffer area provided in the RAM 1214 or in a recording medium such as a USB memory, transmits the read transmission data to the network, or writes the received data received from the network to the reception buffer area provided on the recording medium.

[0085] Also, the CPU 1212 may cause all or a necessary part of a file or database stored in an external recording medium such as a USB memory to be read into the RAM 1214 and perform various types of processing on the data on the RAM 1214. The CPU 1212 may then write back the processed data to the external recording medium.

[0086] Various types of information such as various types of programs, data, tables, and databases may be stored in a recording medium and may undergo information processing. The CPU 1212 may perform various types of processing on the data read from the RAM 1214, including various types of operations, information processing, conditional judgment, conditional branching, unconditional branching, search / replacement of information, etc., described throughout this disclosure and specified by the instruction sequence of the program, and write back the results to the RAM 1214. Also, the CPU 1212 may search for information in files, databases, etc. within the recording medium. For example, when a plurality of entries each having an attribute value of a first attribute associated with an attribute value of a second attribute are stored in the recording medium, the CPU 1212 searches for an entry that matches the condition where the attribute value of the first attribute is specified from among the plurality of entries, reads the attribute value of the second attribute stored in the entry, and thereby may obtain the attribute value of the second attribute associated with the first attribute that satisfies a predetermined condition.

[0087] The program or software module described above may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium on or near the computer 1200. Also, a recording medium such as a hard disk or RAM provided within a server system connected to a dedicated communication network or the Internet can be used as a computer-readable storage medium, thereby providing the program to the computer 1200 via the network.

[0088] A computer-readable medium may include any tangible device that can store instructions executable by a suitable device. As a result, a computer-readable medium having instructions stored therein will comprise a product that includes instructions that may be executed to create means for performing the operations specified in a flowchart or block diagram. Examples of computer-readable media may include electronic storage media, magnetic storage media, optical storage media, electromagnetic storage media, semiconductor storage media, etc. More specific examples of computer-readable media may include floppy (registered trademark) disks, diskettes, hard disks, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or flash memory), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM (registered trademark)), static random access memory (SRAM), compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), digital versatile disc (DVD), Blu-ray (RTM) disc, memory stick, integrated circuit card, etc.

[0089] Computer-readable instructions may include either source code or object code written in any combination of one or more programming languages. The source code or object code may include conventional procedural programming languages. Conventional procedural programming languages may include assembly instructions, instruction set architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions, machine-dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions, state-setting data, or object-oriented programming languages such as Smalltalk (registered trademark), JAVA (registered trademark), C++, etc., and the "C" programming language or similar programming languages. The computer-readable instructions may be provided to a processor of a programmable data processing device or a programmable circuit locally or via a wide area network (WAN) such as a local area network (LAN), the Internet, etc. The processor or programmable circuit may execute the computer-readable instructions to create means for performing the operations specified in a flowchart or block diagram.

[0090] Here, the computer may be a computer such as a PC (personal computer), a tablet computer, a smartphone, a workstation, a server computer, or a general-purpose computer, or may be a computer system to which a plurality of computers are connected. Such a computer system to which a plurality of computers are connected is also called a distributed computing system and is a computer in a broad sense. In a distributed computing system, each of the plurality of computers executes a part of the program, and when necessary, the plurality of computers execute the program collectively by transferring data during program execution between the computers.

[0091] Examples of the processor include a computer processor, a central processing unit (CPU), a processing unit, a microprocessor, a digital signal processor, a controller, a microcontroller, etc. The computer may include one processor or a plurality of processors. In a multiprocessor system including a plurality of processors, each processor executes a part of the program, and when necessary, the plurality of processors execute the program collectively by transferring data during program execution between the processors. For example, in the execution of multitasking, each of the plurality of processors may execute a part of each task in pieces by switching tasks every time slice. In this case, which part of a program each processor executes changes dynamically. Also, which part of a program each of the plurality of processors executes may be statically determined by programming that takes into account the multiprocessor.

[0092] As described above, the present invention has been described using embodiments, but the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments. It is obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes or improvements can be made to the above embodiments. It is clear from the description of the claims that forms with such changes or improvements can also be included in the technical scope of the present invention.

[0093] It should be noted that the execution order of each process such as operations, procedures, steps, and stages in the apparatus, system, program, and method shown in the claims, the specification, and the drawings is not explicitly stated as "earlier" or "preceding" etc., and can be realized in any order unless the output of the previous process is used in the subsequent process. Regarding the operation flow in the claims, the specification, and the drawings, even if it is described using "first," "next," etc. for convenience, it does not mean that it is essential to be implemented in this order.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0094] 10 Animal toilet 12 Sheet 20 Container 30 Switching mechanism 31, 32, 33 Pipes 34 Switching valve 40 Environment sensor 50 Sensor 100 Animal management device 110 Control unit 112 Acquisition unit 114 Estimation unit 116 Output unit 117 Deodorization control unit 118 Rewinding control unit 119 Generation unit 120 Storage unit 130 Communication function 140 Deodorization function 150 Rewinding function 200 Communication terminal 1200 Computer 1210 Host controller 1212 CPU 1214 RAM 1220 Input / Output Controller 1222 Communication Interface 1230 ROM

Claims

1. A sensor having a sensing unit that physically changes in response to at least one substance generated from animal excrement and outputs a signal corresponding to the physical change, from a first state in which it is not exposed to the at least one substance to a second state in which it is exposed to the at least one substance, and then again from the second state to the first state. An acquisition unit that acquires a signal output from the sensor during the detection period until the change; An estimation unit that estimates information regarding at least one of the type and state of the animal excrement based on relationship information indicating the relationship between the characteristic amount of the signal waveform and the animal excrement, and the signal; An output unit that outputs the estimation result by the estimation unit; An animal management device comprising:

2. The sensor is provided in an animal toilet that houses the animal excrement, The animal toilet has a deodorizing function of injecting either a deodorant for feces or a deodorant for urine, The animal management device, The animal management device according to claim 1, further comprising a deodorization control unit that injects either a deodorant for feces or a deodorant for urine into the deodorization function based on the estimation result.

3. The sensor is provided in an animal toilet that houses the animal excrement, The animal toilet has sand or a sheet that absorbs urine, The output unit, When the estimation result indicates urine, outputs a message prompting replacement of the sand or the sheet, The animal management device according to claim 1, wherein when the estimation result indicates feces, outputs a message prompting removal of the feces.

4. The sensor is provided in an animal toilet that houses the animal excrement, The animal toilet has a roll-shaped sheet that absorbs urine and a winding function for winding the roll-shaped sheet, The animal management device, When the estimation result indicates urine, further comprises a winding control unit that controls the winding function to wind the roll-shaped sheet, The animal management device according to claim 1, wherein the output unit outputs a message prompting removal of feces when the estimation result indicates feces.

5. The animal management device according to claim 1, further comprising a generation unit that generates history information of the estimation result and stores it in a storage unit.

6. The sensor has a plurality of sensing units with different characteristics of physical changes corresponding to the at least one substance generated from the excrement, The acquisition unit acquires a plurality of signals output from each of the plurality of sensing units during the detection period, The estimation unit estimates information regarding at least one of the type and state of the excrement of the animal based on the relationship information indicating the relationship between the combination of the feature amounts of the waveforms of at least two of the plurality of signals and the excrement of the animal, and the plurality of signals. The animal management device according to claim 1.

7. The sensitive part includes a sensitive film that deforms when at least one of the substances is adsorbed and diffuses inside. The animal management device according to claim 1.

8. The sensitive film includes an organic-inorganic hybrid material. The animal management device according to claim 7.

9. The feature amount of the waveform of the signal includes at least one of the amplitudes of a plurality of divided waveforms obtained by dividing the waveform of the signal at a predetermined interval, the sum of the amplitudes of the plurality of divided waveforms, the change rates of the amplitudes of the plurality of divided waveforms, the sum of the change rates of the amplitudes of the plurality of divided waveforms, and the average value of the change rates of the amplitudes of the plurality of divided waveforms. The animal management device according to claim 1.

10. The combination of the feature amounts of the waveforms of the at least two signals includes at least one of the ratios of the amplitudes of the plurality of divided waveforms of each of the at least two signals obtained by dividing the waveforms of the at least two signals at a predetermined interval, the ratios of the total values of the amplitudes of the plurality of divided waveforms of each of the at least two signals, the ratios of the change rates of the amplitudes of the plurality of divided waveforms of each of the at least two signals, the ratios of the sums of the change rates of the amplitudes of the plurality of divided waveforms of each of the at least two signals, and the ratios of the average values of the amplitudes of the plurality of divided waveforms of each of the at least two signals. The animal management device according to claim 6.

11. The acquisition unit further acquires environmental information from a sensor that detects the environmental state around the excrement. The estimation unit estimates information regarding at least one of the type and state of the excrement of the animal based on the environmental information. The animal management device according to claim 1.

12. The estimation unit further estimates the physical condition of the animal based on the waveform of the signal. The animal management device according to claim 1.

13. The animal management device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, The sensor, A switching mechanism that communicates with the inner space of the container for storing the excrement and switches between the first state in which the sensor is not exposed to the at least one substance and the second state in which the sensor is exposed to the at least one substance, and A toilet for animals comprising the same. **Claim 14** The switching mechanism is A first pipe communicating with the inner space of the container, A second pipe communicating with the outer space of the container, A third pipe that can be selectively connected to one of the first pipe and the second pipe and includes The sensor is disposed in the third pipe, When the third pipe communicates with the second pipe, the sensor is in the first state, and when the third pipe communicates with the first pipe, the sensor is in the second state. The toilet for animals according to claim 13. **Claim 15** A sensor having a sensitive portion that physically changes in response to at least one substance generated from animal excrement and outputs a signal corresponding to the physical change. After switching from the first state in which the sensor is not exposed to the at least one substance to the second state in which the sensor is exposed to the at least one substance, until it switches back from the second state to the first state again. In the detection period, the acquisition unit acquires the signal output from the sensor, Based on the relationship information indicating the relationship between the characteristic amount of the signal waveform and the animal excrement and the signal, the estimation unit estimates information regarding at least one of the type and state of the animal excrement, The output unit outputs the estimation result in the estimation step, A method for animal management comprising the above. **Claim 16** An acquisition unit that acquires a signal output from a sensor having a sensitive portion that physically changes in response to at least one substance generated from animal excrement and outputs a signal corresponding to the physical change. After switching from the first state in which the sensor is not exposed to the at least one substance to the second state in which the sensor is exposed to the at least one substance, until it switches back from the second state to the first state again. In the detection period, An estimation unit that estimates information regarding at least one of the type and state of the animal excrement based on the relationship information indicating the relationship between the characteristic amount of the signal waveform and the animal excrement and the signal, An output unit that outputs the estimation result by the estimation unit A program for causing a computer to function as such.

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