Bathroom system

Abstract

To provide a bathroom system capable of improving detection accuracy of a bather's biological information.SOLUTION: A bathroom system 1 includes: detection means 40; a control part 11 controlling the detection means 40 and executing biological information detection processing; environment adjusting means 70, 4, 80; and notification means 12D, 12S. The control part 11 performs SN ratio calculation processing that calculates SN ratio of detected biological information. The control part 11 performs detection accuracy improving operation for improving SN ratio of the biological information when the calculated SN ratio is below SN ratio determination value which is at least one of the following: adjusting operation adjusting the inside of a bathroom R1 with the environment adjusting means 70, 4, 80 into an environment suited to execution of detection operation; and body motion suppression notification operation notifying the bather P1 that the bather should suppress body motions inside the bathroom R1 with the notification means 12D, 12S.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a bathroom system.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an example of a conventional bathroom system. This bathroom system includes a camera and a control device. The camera performs a detection operation of photographing an image including the face of a bather in the bathtub and the water surface of the hot water. The control device controls the camera.

[0003] Based on the image acquired from the camera, the control device reads a plurality of factors related to the expression and posture of the bather, and detects the physical state of the bather and the degree of immersion of the bather's face in the hot water in the bathtub. Then, this bathroom system determines the risk level of the bather based on the detected physical state and degree of immersion, and performs notification according to the determined risk level.

[0004] In addition, development has been carried out on a technique for detecting biological information including at least the vital state of a bather based on an image of the bather acquired from a camera. The vital state is, for example, a pulse wave, a heartbeat, a respiration, etc.

[0005] Also, Patent Document 2 discloses another example of a conventional bathroom system. This bathroom system includes a millimeter-wave sensor and a control device. The millimeter-wave sensor performs a detection operation of detecting the physical state of a bather by transmitting millimeter waves toward the bather in the bathroom for taking a sauna bath, receiving the reflected waves, and outputting an output signal. The control device controls the millimeter-wave sensor.

[0006] The control device has a measurement unit, an estimation unit, and a notification processing unit. The measurement unit detects biological information including at least the vital state of the bather based on the output signal acquired from the millimeter-wave sensor. The estimation unit estimates a physical discomfort of the bather based on the detected biological information. The notification processing unit notifies the occurrence of an emergency situation in response to the estimation of physical discomfort.

[0007] In addition, technologies for detecting biological information including at least the vital state of a bather using a microwave sensor instead of a millimeter-wave sensor have also been developed. Millimeter-wave sensors and microwave sensors are radar sensors.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0008]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0009] However, in the above conventional bathroom system, when performing a detection operation by detection means such as a camera or a radar sensor, as described below, it may be difficult to improve the detection accuracy of the biological information of the bather.

[0010] That is, regarding the environment in the bathroom, when water vapor such as steam is generated in the bathroom, in the case of a camera, the light incident on the camera is likely to be attenuated by light scattering, and in the case of a radar sensor, the transmitted wave and the reflected wave are likely to be attenuated by the fine particles of water vapor. Also, regarding the environment in the bathroom, when the illuminance in the bathroom deviates from the appropriate range or specular reflection occurs due to the fluctuation of the water surface in the bathtub, the detection means is likely to pick up large noise. Furthermore, when the bather moves in the bathroom or makes large movements of the torso, head, hands, etc. even without moving, that is, when the body movement of the bather occurs, the detection means is likely to pick up large noise. As a result, in the above conventional bathroom system, the detection accuracy of the detection means is likely to decrease, and as a result, it may be difficult to improve the detection accuracy of the biological information of the bather.

[0011] The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a bathroom system capable of improving the detection accuracy of the biological information of a bather.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0012] The bathroom system of the present invention includes, in a bathroom, detection means for performing a detection operation of detecting the physical state of a bather, a control unit that controls the detection means and performs a biological information detection process of detecting biological information including at least the vital state of the bather, which is the digitized biological information, based on the physical state detected by the detection means, environment adjustment means for adjusting the environment in the bathroom, notification means for notifying the bather, and is a bathroom system provided with the control unit executes an SN ratio calculation process for calculating the SN ratio of the detected biological information, when the calculated SN ratio is less than the SN ratio determination value, the control unit performs a detection accuracy improvement operation for improving the SN ratio of the biological information, which is at least one of an adjustment operation of adjusting the inside of the bathroom to an environment suitable for performing the detection operation by the environment adjustment means and a body movement suppression notification operation of notifying the bather to suppress body movement in the bathroom by the notification means.

[0013] In the bathroom system of the present invention, the control unit executes an SN ratio calculation process, and when the calculated SN ratio is less than the SN ratio determination value, it is estimated that the environment in the bathroom is not an environment suitable for performing the detection operation, for example, due to the generation of water vapor in the bathroom, deviation from the appropriate range of illuminance in the bathroom, generation of irregular reflection due to the fluctuation of the hot water surface in the bathtub, or the occurrence of body movement of the bather.

[0014] And in this case, the control unit executes a detection accuracy improvement operation for improving the signal-to-noise ratio (SN ratio) of the biological information. The detection accuracy improvement operation is at least one of an adjustment operation by the environment adjustment means and a body movement suppression notification operation by the notification means.

[0015] Specific examples of the adjustment operation by the environment adjustment means are given. The adjustment ventilation operation of ventilating the bathroom by the ventilation device can discharge water vapor outside the bathroom and suppress further generation of water vapor. The adjustment lighting operation of adjusting the intensity of the light irradiated into the bathroom by the lighting device can eliminate the deviation from the appropriate range of the illuminance in the bathroom. The bubble supply operation of supplying fine bubbles to the hot water in the bathtub by the fine bubble supply device can suppress the specular reflection caused by the fluctuation of the hot water surface in the bathtub.

[0016] The bather who has received the body movement suppression notification operation will consciously suppress body movement.

[0017] As a result, it becomes easier for the control unit to eliminate the cause that the calculated SN ratio is less than the SN ratio determination value. If the cause can be actually eliminated, a decrease in the detection accuracy of the detection means can be suppressed.

[0018] Therefore, the bathroom system of the present invention can improve the detection accuracy of the biological information of the bather.

[0019] After the control unit executes one of the adjustment operation and the body movement suppression notification operation as the detection accuracy improvement operation, if the SN ratio does not become equal to or higher than the SN ratio determination value, it is desirable to further execute the other of the adjustment operation and the body movement suppression notification operation as the detection accuracy improvement operation.

[0020] With this configuration, even if the cause that the calculated SN ratio is less than the SN ratio determination value cannot be eliminated by one of the adjustment operation and the body movement suppression notification operation, by further executing the other of the adjustment operation and the body movement suppression notification operation as the detection accuracy improvement operation, the cause can be eliminated with high certainty. As a result, this bathroom system can improve the detection accuracy of the biological information of the bather with high certainty.

[0021] The detection means is preferably an imaging means that performs an imaging operation of capturing an image of the bather as a detection operation. The control unit preferably detects, by performing image processing on the captured image acquired from the imaging means, a cause of non - compliance indicating that the bathroom is not suitable for performing the detection operation and the body movement of the bather. Then, when the calculated signal - to - noise ratio is less than the signal - to - noise ratio determination value, the control unit preferably executes an adjustment operation when detecting a cause of non - compliance and executes a body movement suppression notification operation when detecting body movement.

[0022] With this configuration, the control unit can accurately and quickly detect the cause of non - compliance and body movement by image processing. And when the control unit detects the cause of non - compliance, it can immediately execute an adjustment operation, and when it detects body movement, it can immediately execute a body movement suppression notification operation. As a result, this bathroom system can further improve the detection accuracy of the bather's biological information with higher certainty.

[0023] In the above case, it is preferable that the environment adjustment means has a ventilation device that performs an adjustment ventilation operation of ventilating the bathroom as an adjustment operation. The control unit preferably can detect the generation of water vapor in the bathroom as a cause of non - compliance. And when the control unit detects the generation of water vapor, it is preferable to execute the adjustment ventilation operation.

[0024] With this configuration, the control unit can accurately and quickly detect the generation of water vapor in the bathroom by image processing. And when the control unit detects the generation of water vapor, it can immediately execute the adjustment ventilation operation to ventilate the bathroom. As a result, this bathroom system can further improve the detection accuracy of the bather's biological information with higher certainty.

[0025] In the above case, it is desirable that the environment adjustment means includes a lighting device that, as an adjustment operation, performs an adjustment lighting operation of adjusting the intensity of light irradiated into the bathroom so that the illuminance in the bathroom falls within an appropriate range. It is desirable that the control unit can detect a deviation from the appropriate range of the illuminance in the bathroom as a cause of non-conformance. Then, when the control unit detects a deviation from the appropriate range of the illuminance in the bathroom, it is desirable that the control unit performs the adjustment lighting operation.

[0026] With this configuration, the control unit can accurately and quickly detect a deviation from the appropriate range of the illuminance in the bathroom by image processing. Then, as soon as the control unit detects a deviation from the appropriate range of the illuminance, it immediately performs the adjustment lighting operation. If the illuminance is less than the appropriate range, it increases the intensity of the light irradiated into the bathroom, and if the illuminance is greater than the appropriate range, it weakens the light irradiated into the bathroom, and can immediately bring the illuminance within the appropriate range. As a result, the control unit can suppress the occurrence of whiteouts in the captured image of the imaging means or the entire captured image from becoming dark. As a result, this bathroom system can further reliably improve the detection accuracy of the biometric information of the bather.

[0027] In the above case, it is desirable that the environment adjustment means includes a fine bubble supply device that, as an adjustment operation, performs a bubble supply operation of supplying fine bubbles to the hot water in the bathtub. It is desirable that the control unit can detect that the fluctuation range of the luminance of the water surface in the bathtub is larger than the specular reflection determination value as a cause of non-conformance. Then, when the control unit detects that the fluctuation range of the luminance is larger than the specular reflection determination value, it is desirable that the control unit performs the bubble supply operation.

[0028] With this configuration, the control unit can accurately and quickly detect specular reflection due to the fluctuation of the water surface in the bathtub by image processing. Then, as soon as the control unit detects that the fluctuation range of the luminance is larger than the specular reflection determination value, it immediately performs the bubble supply operation, and by making the water surface in the bathtub turbid, it can suppress specular reflection due to the fluctuation of the water surface in the bathtub. As a result, this bathroom system can further reliably improve the detection accuracy of the biometric information of the bather.

[0029] In the biological information detection process, it is desirable for the control unit to detect the first biological information and the second biological information extracted from the first biological information. In the SN ratio calculation process, it is desirable for the control unit to calculate the SN ratio of the detected first biological information. Then, it is desirable for the control unit to suspend the use of the first biological information and the second biological information detected while the calculated SN ratio is less than the SN ratio determination value.

[0030] When the SN ratio is less than the SN ratio determination value, there is a high possibility that the accuracy of the first biological information and the second biological information is poor. Therefore, by suspending the use of the first biological information and the second biological information detected while the SN ratio is less than the SN ratio determination value, the first biological information and the second biological information with good accuracy can be used with high certainty.

Advantages of the Invention

[0031] According to the bathroom system of the present invention, the detection accuracy of the biological information of the bather can be improved.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0032]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0033] Hereinafter, Examples 1 and 2 embodying the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0034] (Example 1) As shown in FIG. 1, the bathroom system 1 of Example 1 is an example of a specific aspect of the bathroom system of the present invention and is applied to the house H1. The house H1 is provided with a bathroom R1 and a kitchen R2. In the bathroom R1, a bathtub 3, a mixing faucet 5, and a shower 5A are installed.

[0035] The bathroom system 1 includes a hot water supply device 90, a bathroom remote control 10, a kitchen remote control 20, a bathroom heater / dryer 50, a lighting device 4, and a fine bubble supply device 80. The bathroom heater / dryer 50 has a heating device 60 and a ventilation device 70.

[0036] The lighting device 4, the ventilation device 70, and the fine bubble supply device 80 are each an example of the "environment adjustment means" of the present invention.

[0037] Further, the bathroom system 1 includes a camera 40 provided integrally with the bathroom remote control 10. The camera 40 is an example of the "detection means" and "imaging means" of the present invention.

[0038] <Hot water supply device> The hot water supply device 90 is installed in the house H1. Since the hot water supply device 90 has a well-known configuration, the description will be simplified, but it has a gas burner, a heat exchanger, a circulation pump, etc. (not shown). The gas burner burns a fuel gas such as city gas to generate high-temperature combustion gas. The hot water supply device 90 circulates the water supplied from a water supply or the like in the heat exchanger, heats the water by performing heat exchange with the combustion gas generated by the gas burner, and discharges hot water.

[0039] The hot water supply device 90 supplies hot and cold water to the mixing faucet 5 and the shower 5A via the pipe P5. Further, the hot water supply device 90 supplies hot and cold water to the bathtub 3 via the bathtub supply pipe P3A. The hot water supply device 90 can execute an automatic filling operation for automatically filling the bathtub 3, a supplementary hot water operation for adding hot water to the bathtub 3, and a supplementary water operation for adding water to the bathtub 3.

[0040] Furthermore, the water heater 90 can execute a supplementary heating operation in which hot water is circulated between the bathtub 3, the bathtub return pipe P3B, the heat exchanger, and the bathtub supply pipe P3A by a circulation pump (not shown) and heated by a gas burner.

[0041] The water heater 90 has a control unit 91. The control unit 91 is an electronic circuit unit including a CPU (not shown), a storage unit 91M composed of storage elements such as a ROM and a RAM, and an interface circuit and the like. The control unit 91 executes control processing related to the operations of the gas burner, heat exchanger, circulation pump, etc. of the water heater 90.

[0042] Also, the control unit 91 controls the heating device 60 and the ventilation device 70 of the bathroom heater / dryer 50 via the control unit incorporated in the bathroom heater / dryer 50. Furthermore, the control unit 91 controls the fine bubble supply device 80.

[0043] The storage unit 91M stores various programs and setting information for operating the water heater 90 and the like. Also, the storage unit 91M appropriately stores various information acquired by the control unit 91 during the operation of the water heater 90 and the like.

[0044] The water heater 90 has a water level sensor 93. The water level sensor 93 includes a pressure sensor that measures the pressure in the internal pipe connected to the bathtub 3 via the bathtub supply pipe P3A and the bathtub return pipe P3B. The water level sensor 93 detects the water level of the bathtub 3 based on the hydrostatic pressure measured by the pressure sensor when the water surface in the bathtub 3 is in a static state. The water level when the bather P1 is in the bathtub 3 is significantly higher than the water level when the bather P1 is not in the bathtub 3. The water level sensor 93 detects whether the bather P1 is in the bathtub 3 based on such a change in the water level.

[0045] <Bathroom Remote Control> The bathroom remote control 10 is installed on the inner wall of the bathroom R1 that faces the bather P1 in the bathtub 3. That is, the bathroom remote control 10 is installed at a position where the integrally provided camera 40 can photograph the bather P1 in the bathtub 3 and the surrounding area. The bathroom remote control 10 is connected to the control unit 91 of the hot water supply device 90 so as to enable wired communication.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 2, the bathroom remote control 10 has an input unit 12B, a display unit 12D, a speaker 12S, a wireless communication unit 13, and a control unit 11. The display unit 12D and the speaker 12S are an example of the "notification means" of the present invention.

[0047] The bathroom remote control 10 transmits the operation performed by the bather P1 on the input unit 12B to the hot water supply device 90 to remotely control the hot water supply device 90. Further, the bathroom remote control 10 displays various information such as the operation status and setting information transmitted from the hot water supply device 90 on the display unit 12D or outputs it as sound through the speaker 12S.

[0048] Furthermore, the bathroom remote control 10 can remotely control the bathroom heater / dryer 50, the lighting device 4, and the fine bubble supply device 80 via the control unit 91, or display or output as sound various information about the bathroom heater / dryer 50, the lighting device 4, and the fine bubble supply device 80.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 1, the wireless communication unit 13 performs wireless communication with the wireless router 7 installed in the house H1 by Wi-Fi (registered trademark) or the like. The control unit 11 can connect to an external network NW1 via the wireless communication unit 13 and the wireless router 7 and perform network communication with an information processing terminal such as an external server 9 connected to the network NW1. The external server 9 is a support server for the bathroom system 1.

[0050] As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 11 is an electronic circuit unit including a CPU (not shown), a storage unit 11M constituted by storage elements such as a ROM and a RAM, and an interface circuit or the like.

[0051] The control unit 11 controls the operations of the input unit 12B, the display unit 12D, and the speaker 12S of the bathroom remote controller 10, and also controls the operation of the camera 40. Further, the control unit 11 controls the wired communication between the bathroom remote controller 10 and the control unit 91 of the water heater 90. Furthermore, the control unit 11 performs control for the bathroom remote controller 10 to remotely operate the bathroom heater / dryer 50, the lighting device 4, and the microbubble supply device 80 via the control unit 91, and to display or output various information about the bathroom heater / dryer 50, the lighting device 4, and the microbubble supply device 80 in voice.

[0052] The storage unit 11M stores various programs and setting information for operating the bathroom remote controller 10 and the camera 40. Further, the storage unit 11M appropriately stores various information acquired by the control unit 11 during the operations of the bathroom remote controller 10 and the camera 40. The programs stored in the storage unit 11M include the biological information detection processing programs shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0053] As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 11 includes an image processing unit 11A and a biological information detection unit 11B. The image processing unit 11A and the biological information detection unit 11B function when the control unit 11 executes the biological information detection processing programs shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The processing details of the image processing unit 11A and the biological information detection unit 11B will be described later.

[0054] <Kitchen remote controller> As shown in FIG. 1, the kitchen remote controller 20 is installed in the kitchen R2 of the house H1. The kitchen remote controller 20 is connected to the control unit 91 of the water heater 90 so as to be capable of wired communication.

[0055] Since the kitchen remote controller 20 has a well-known configuration, the description will be brief. Similar to the bathroom remote controller 10, the kitchen remote controller 20 remotely operates the water heater 90 in response to an operation by a resident in the kitchen R2, and displays or outputs in voice various information such as the operation status and setting information transmitted from the water heater 90.

[0056] The kitchen remote controller 20 has a wireless communication unit (not shown). The wireless communication unit of the kitchen remote controller 20 performs wireless communication with the wireless router 7 installed in the house H1 via Wi-Fi (registered trademark) or the like. The control unit 91 of the water heater 90 is connected to the external network NW1 via the wireless communication unit of the kitchen remote controller 20 and the wireless router 7, and can perform network communication with an information processing terminal such as an external server 9 connected to the network NW1.

[0057] <Bathroom heater and dryer, and adjustment ventilation operation> The bathroom heater and dryer 50 has a well-known configuration, so the description will be simplified. The heating device 60 and the ventilation device 70 are unitized and installed on the ceiling of the bathroom R1. The bathroom heater and dryer 50 is connected to the control unit 91 of the water heater 90 in a manner that enables wired communication. The control unit 11 can control the operation, air volume adjustment, and stop of the ventilation device 70 via the control unit 91.

[0058] The bathroom heater and dryer 50 is operated by the bathroom remote controller 10 or a bathroom heater and dryer remote controller (not shown) installed in the dressing room. The bathroom heater and dryer 50 detects the temperature in the bathroom R1 with a temperature sensor (not shown) and uses it for controlling the heating device 60 and the ventilation device 70.

[0059] The heating device 60 has a circulation fan, a radiator, a thermostatic valve, etc. (not shown). The heating device 60 is connected to the water heater 90 by a heating supply pipe P6A and a heating return pipe P6B.

[0060] The heating device 60 can execute a heating operation to warm the bathroom R1 by circulating the air in the bathroom R1 with a circulation fan (not shown) and heating the air with warm water flowing through a radiator (not shown) supplied from the water heater 90.

[0061] The ventilation device 70 can execute a ventilation operation to ventilate the inside of the bathroom R1 by discharging the air in the bathroom R1 to the outside of the house H1 with a ventilation fan and a variable damper (not shown).

[0062] Furthermore, the bathroom heater-dryer 50 is capable of performing a drying operation of drying the bathroom R1 by coordinately raising the temperature of the bathroom R1 by a heating operation and dehumidifying the bathroom R1 by a ventilation operation.

[0063] When the control unit 11 executes the biometric information detection processing program shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the ventilation device 70 performs an adjustment ventilation operation as an adjustment operation for adjusting the inside of the bathroom R1 to an environment suitable for the imaging operation of the camera 40. The adjustment ventilation operation is an operation of ventilating the inside of the bathroom R1. The adjustment ventilation operation is an example of the "detection accuracy improvement operation" of the present invention.

[0064] An environment suitable for the imaging operation of the camera 40 is, for example, an environment in which water vapor such as steam in the bathroom R1 is less, and light scattering due to water vapor is less likely to occur between the camera 40 and the imaging target.

[0065] When the resident of the house H1 ventilates the inside of the bathroom R1 regardless of the imaging operation of the camera 40, specifically, when the inside of the bathroom R1 is to be dried after cleaning the inside of the bathroom R1, or when the bather P1 wants to ventilate the inside of the bathroom R1, the bathroom remote control 10 or the like is operated to select a desired air volume from a plurality of levels such as "weak", "medium", "strong", etc., whereby the ventilation device 70 can be made to execute a ventilation operation.

[0066] The ventilation air volume when the ventilation device 70 performs the adjustment ventilation operation is preset according to the request of the bather P1. For example, if it is required that the air volume is at a level that does not bother the bather P1, it is preferable that the ventilation air volume when the ventilation device 70 performs the adjustment ventilation operation is set to be about the same as or smaller than the "weak" air volume. On the other hand, if it is required to quickly exhibit the effect of the adjustment ventilation operation, it is preferable that the ventilation air volume when the ventilation device 70 performs the adjustment ventilation operation is set to be about the same as the "strong" air volume.

[0067] <Lighting device, and adjustment lighting operation> As shown in FIG. 1, the lighting device 4 has a well-known configuration, so the description will be simplified. The lighting device 4 is installed on the ceiling of the bathroom R1. The lighting device 4 is connected to the control unit 91 of the water heater 90 so as to be capable of wired communication.

[0068] The lighting device 4 is turned on and off by the operator P1 operating a lighting switch installed in the bathroom R1 or the dressing room. The control unit 11 can adjust the intensity of the light irradiated by the lighting device 4 into the bathroom R1 by controlling the lighting device 4 via the control unit 91.

[0069] When the control unit 11 executes the biometric information detection processing program shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the lighting device 4 executes an adjustment lighting operation as an adjustment operation for adjusting the bathroom R1 into an environment suitable for the imaging operation of the camera 40. The adjustment lighting operation is an operation for adjusting the intensity of the light irradiated into the bathroom R1 so that the illuminance in the bathroom R1 falls within an appropriate range. The adjustment lighting operation is an example of the "detection accuracy improvement operation" of the present invention.

[0070] An environment suitable for the imaging operation of the camera 40 is, for example, an environment in which the illuminance in the bathroom R1 is equal to or less than the upper limit of the appropriate range, so that white flying is less likely to occur in the details of the image captured by the camera 40, and the shadow of the recess is less noticeable, and a good image with less noise can be captured. Also, when the illuminance in the bathroom R1 is equal to or greater than the lower limit of the appropriate range, the difference in brightness and darkness of the image captured by the camera 40 becomes clear, and a good image with less noise can be captured.

[0071] <Fine bubble supply device, and bubble supply operation> As shown in FIG. 1, the fine bubble supply device 80 is installed in the middle of the bathtub supply pipe P3A and the bathtub return pipe P3B. The fine bubble supply device 80 is connected to the control unit 91 of the water heater 90 so as to be capable of wired communication. The control unit 11 can control the operation and stop of the fine bubble supply device 80 via the control unit 91. Note that the fine bubble supply device 80 may be incorporated in the water heater 90.

[0072] When the control unit 11 executes the biological information detection processing program shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the fine bubble supply device 80 performs a bubble supply operation as an adjustment operation for adjusting the inside of the bathroom R1 to an environment suitable for executing the imaging operation of the camera 40. The bubble supply operation is an operation of supplying fine bubbles to the hot water in the bathtub 3. The bubble supply operation is an example of the "detection accuracy improvement operation" of the present invention.

[0073] An environment suitable for executing the imaging operation of the camera 40 is, for example, an environment in which the light irradiated from the lighting device 4 is less diffusely reflected in various directions on the water surface of the hot water in the bathtub 3, so that the camera 40 is less affected by stray light.

[0074] Also, when the bather P1 wants to take a bath in a state where the hot water in the bathtub 3 contains fine bubbles, the bathroom remote control 10 or the like is operated to cause the fine bubble supply device 80 to perform the bubble supply operation.

[0075] Although various methods are known as the method of supplying fine bubbles, in this embodiment, the fine bubble supply device 80 can perform the bubble supply operation as follows.

[0076] That is, when the fine bubble supply device 80 is not performing the bubble supply operation, the hot water is allowed to flow directly from the upstream to the downstream of the bathtub supply pipe P3A and directly from the upstream to the downstream of the bathtub return pipe P3B.

[0077] When the fine bubble supply device 80 performs the bubble supply operation, the hot water sucked up from the bathtub 3 is pressurized by a pump and taken into the tank, and a swirling flow is generated in the pressurized hot water taken into the tank and brought into contact with air, so that air is dissolved in the hot water. Then, when the pressure suddenly drops when the hot water jets out from the circulation fitting of the bathtub 3, the dissolved air turns into fine bubbles and the hot water becomes cloudy.

[0078] <Camera> The camera 40 is a digital camera capable of shooting videos. The images captured by the camera 40 are composed of image information in RGB format. The frame rate when the camera 40 shoots a video is, for example, 10 to 60 (frames / second).

[0079] When the control unit 11 executes the biological information detection processing program shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the camera 40 is controlled by the control unit 11 to perform a shooting operation of shooting an image of the bather P1 in the bathroom R1 as shown in FIG. 1. The shooting operation of the camera 40 is a detection operation for detecting the physical state of the bather P1 in the bathroom R1.

[0080] The camera 40 performs a shooting operation so as to include at least the head P1H of the bather P1, the water surface in the bathtub 3, and the space above the water surface in the bathtub 3 where water vapor such as steam easily drifts and is irradiated with light from the lighting device 4 in the captured image. The image information of the image captured by the camera 40 is transmitted to the image processing unit 11A of the control unit 11.

[0081] <Body movement suppression notification operation of the display unit and the speaker> When the control unit 11 executes the biological information detection processing program shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the display unit 12D and the speaker 12S are controlled by the control unit 11 to perform a body movement suppression notification operation. The body movement suppression notification operation is an operation for notifying the bather P1 to suppress body movement in the bathroom R1. The body movement suppression notification operation is an example of the "detection accuracy improvement operation" of the present invention.

[0082] The body movement of the bather P includes partial body movements such as the head P1H, torso, hands and feet of the bather P swaying, and overall body movements such as standing, sitting, and moving. For example, the body movement suppression notification operation is executed by the display unit 12D displaying a message such as "Body movement has been detected. Please suppress body movement." or the speaker 12S outputting the message as voice.

[0083] <Biological information detection processing> Based on the physical condition detected by the camera 40 through the shooting operation, the control unit 11 executes a biological information detection process for detecting biological information including at least the vital condition of the bather P1, which is digitized biological information.

[0084] The control unit 11 stores the detected biological information in the storage unit 11M for use as health management data of the bather P1, and also uses it to observe changes in the physical condition of the bather P1 and to determine the presence or absence of safety problems of the bather P1.

[0085] The physical condition detected by the camera 40 through the shooting operation includes at least a part of the image of the body of the bather P1 included in the captured image of the camera 40 and the sequential changes in the hue, brightness, and saturation of a plurality of pixels constituting the image.

[0086] Biological information including at least the vital condition of the bather P1, which is digitized biological information, is a pulse wave, heart rate, respiration, etc. A pulse wave is a wave of the propagation of the change in arterial pressure (pulse pressure) accompanying the heartbeat of the heart, and distortion occurs in the waveform while it is transmitted to the periphery.

[0087] As shown in FIG. 2, in this embodiment, the image processing unit 11A processes the physical condition detected by the camera 40 through the shooting operation, and the biological information detection unit 11B detects the pulse wave and respiration as digitized information based on the result of the image processing.

[0088] For example, the pulse wave is detected by the sequential change in the brightness of the face part. The respiration rate, the degree of the depth of respiration, etc. are detected by digitizing the fluctuations of the nostrils, mouth, chest, etc. and performing arithmetic processing. The pulse wave and respiration are the first biological information.

[0089] Then, the biological information detection unit 11B performs arithmetic processing on the information extracted from the pulse wave included in the first biological information, and detects the heart rate and the heart rate variability analysis index (LF / HF, etc.) as digitized information. The heart rate and the heart rate variability analysis index, etc. are the second biological information extracted from the first biological information.

[0090] In order to improve the detection accuracy of the biological information of the bather P1, when the power supplies of the hot water supply device 90 and the bathroom remote controller 10 are turned on, the control unit 11 executes the biological information detection processing program shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0091] First, in step S101, based on the detection result of the water level sensor 93, the control unit 11 detects whether the bather P1 is in the bathtub 3.

[0092] If the answer in step S101 is "No", the control unit 11 repeats step S101. When the answer in step S101 becomes "Yes", the control unit 11 proceeds to step S102 and determines that the bather P1 has started bathing in the bathtub 3.

[0093] Next, the control unit 11 proceeds to step S103 and causes the camera 40 to start a photographing operation. The camera 40 photographs an image including the bather P1 in the bathtub 3 and its surroundings, and transmits the image information to the image processing unit 11A.

[0094] Next, the control unit 11 proceeds to step S104 and initializes the use suspension flag to "0". The use suspension flag is a flag that becomes "0" when the first biological information and the second biological information can be used, and becomes "1" when the use of the first biological information and the second biological information should be suspended. As will be described later, the use suspension flag is changed to "1" in step S115 and returns to "0" in step S127 shown in FIG. 4.

[0095] Next, the control unit 11 proceeds to step S106 shown in FIG. 3, and the image processing unit 11A executes a process of detecting the generation of water vapor in the bathroom R1. For example, the image processing unit 11A detects the generation of water vapor by looking at the optical flow. The optical flow is a method of comparing adjacent first and second frames in a moving image and representing, by a flow vector, to which pixel in the second frame each pixel in the first frame has moved.

[0096] Next, the control unit 11 proceeds to step S107, and the image processing unit 11A executes a process of detecting the illuminance in the bathroom R1. For example, the image processing unit 11A detects the illuminance in the bathroom R1 by calculating the overall average of the luminance of each pixel in the captured image of the camera.

[0097] Next, the control unit 11 proceeds to step S108, and the image processing unit 11A executes a process of detecting the variation range of the luminance of the hot water surface in the bathtub 3. For example, the image processing unit 11A extracts each pixel corresponding to the hot water surface in the captured image of the camera, and detects the variation range of the luminance of the hot water surface by calculating the average of the variation ranges of the luminance of the extracted pixels.

[0098] Next, the control unit 11 proceeds to step S109, and the image processing unit 11A executes a process of detecting the body movement of the bather P1. For example, the image processing unit 11A recognizes the area in the captured image of the camera where the bather P1 is reflected using artificial intelligence, and detects the body movement of the bather P1 by calculating the amount of change in the contour of that area.

[0099] Next, the control unit 11 proceeds to step S111, executes the biometric information detection process of the above-described processing content, detects the first biometric information and the second biometric information, and executes the SN ratio detection process.

[0100] The SN ratio detection process is a process of calculating the SN ratio of the biometric information detected by the biometric information detection process. In this embodiment, the control unit 11 calculates the SN ratio of the detected first biometric information (pulse wave) in the SN ratio calculation process. As a method for calculating the SN ratio of the first biometric information (pulse wave), when the temporal change in the luminance of the face part for detecting the pulse wave is subjected to FFT conversion, the sum of the pulse components (power spectrum) and the sum of all components are calculated, SN ratio = (pulse component / all components), is set. When the pulse can be detected without noise, the SN ratio = 1 (the higher the better).

[0101] Next, the control unit 11 proceeds to step S112 shown in FIG. 3, and determines whether the usage suspension flag is "1".

[0102] If the answer in step S112 is "No", the control unit 11 proceeds to step S113, stores the first biological information and the second biological information in the storage unit 11M, and uses them to observe changes in the physical condition of the bather P1 or to determine the presence or absence of safety problems of the bather P1. Then, if necessary regarding changes in the physical condition or safety problems of the bather P1, the control unit 11 notifies the bather P1 through the display unit 12D or the speaker 12S. After that, the control unit 11 proceeds to step S114.

[0103] Note that the control unit 11 can execute network communication with the external server 9 to transmit the first biological information and the second biological information to the external server 9, or receive a processing result obtained by the external server 9 performing arithmetic processing based on the transmitted first biological information and second biological information.

[0104] On the other hand, if the answer in step S112 is "Yes", the control unit 11 proceeds to step S114.

[0105] When proceeding from step S112 or step S113 to step S114, the control unit 11 determines whether the calculated SN ratio is less than the SN ratio determination value. The SN ratio determination value is a threshold value (0 < SN ratio determination value < 1) for determining whether the noise included in the first biological information and the second biological information is so large as to eliminate the utilization value of the first biological information and the second biological information.

[0106] If the answer in step S114 is "No", the control unit 11 proceeds to step S126 shown in FIG. 4. The processing after step S126 will be described later.

[0107] On the other hand, if the answer in step S114 shown in FIG. 3 is "Yes", the control unit 11 proceeds to step S115 and changes the utilization stop flag to "1". That is, the control unit 11 stops the utilization of the first biological information and the second biological information detected while the calculated SN ratio is less than the SN ratio determination value.

[0108] Next, the control unit 11 proceeds to step S116 and determines whether the generation of water vapor in the bathroom R1 is detected by the detection process in step S106.

[0109] If "Yes" in step S116, the control unit 11 proceeds to step S117. Then, the control unit 11 starts the adjusted ventilation operation by the ventilation device 70, continues if the adjusted ventilation operation has started, resumes if it has stopped after the start of the adjusted ventilation operation, and then proceeds to step S118 shown in FIG. 4.

[0110] That is, in step S106, the control unit 11 can detect the generation of water vapor in the bathroom R1 as a cause of non - compliance where the inside of the bathroom R1 is not suitable for the execution of the shooting operation of the camera 40. And in step S116, when the control unit 11 detects the generation of water vapor, in step S117, it executes the adjusted ventilation operation. As a result, the inside of the bathroom R1 can be ventilated immediately.

[0111] On the other hand, if "No" in step S116 shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 11 proceeds to step S118 shown in FIG. 4.

[0112] When shifting from step S116 or step S117 shown in FIG. 3 to step S118 shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 11 determines whether it has detected a deviation from the appropriate range of illuminance in the bathroom R1 by the detection process in step S107.

[0113] If "Yes" in step S118, the control unit 11 proceeds to step S119. Then, the control unit 11 starts the adjusted lighting operation by the lighting device 4, continues if the adjusted lighting operation has started, resumes if it has stopped after the start of the adjusted lighting operation, and then proceeds to step S120.

[0114] That is, in step S107, the control unit 11 can detect a deviation from the appropriate range of illuminance in the bathroom R1 as a cause of incompatibility where the inside of the bathroom R1 is no longer an environment suitable for performing the shooting operation of the camera 40. Then, in step S118, when the control unit 11 detects a deviation from the appropriate range of illuminance in the bathroom R1, in step S119, it executes an adjustment lighting operation. As a result, if the illuminance is lower than the appropriate range, the light irradiated into the bathroom R1 is strengthened, and if the illuminance is higher than the appropriate range, the light irradiated into the bathroom R1 is weakened, so that the illuminance can be immediately brought within the appropriate range.

[0115] On the other hand, if the result in step S118 is "No", the control unit 11 proceeds to step S120.

[0116] When shifting from step S118 or step S119 to step S120, the control unit 11 determines whether it has detected, by the detection process in step S108, that the fluctuation range of the luminance of the hot water surface in the bathtub 3 is greater than the specular reflection determination value.

[0117] If the result in step S120 is "Yes", the control unit 11 proceeds to step S121. Then, the control unit 11 starts the bubble supply operation by the fine bubble supply device 80, continues the bubble supply operation if it has already started, or restarts it if it has stopped after starting, and then proceeds to step S122.

[0118] That is, in step S108, the control unit 11 can detect that the fluctuation range of the luminance of the hot water surface in the bathtub 3 is greater than the specular reflection determination value as a cause of incompatibility where the inside of the bathroom R1 is no longer an environment suitable for performing the shooting operation of the camera 40. Then, in step S120, when the control unit 11 detects that the fluctuation range of the luminance is greater than the specular reflection determination value, in step S121, it executes the bubble supply operation. As a result, the hot water surface in the bathtub 3 can be immediately clouded by fine bubbles, and specular reflection due to the fluctuation of the hot water surface in the bathtub 3 can be suppressed.

[0119] On the other hand, if the answer is "No" in step S120, the control unit 11 proceeds to step S122.

[0120] When shifting from step S120 or step S121 to step S122, the control unit 11 determines whether the body movement of the bather P1 has been detected by the detection process in step S109.

[0121] If the answer is "Yes" in step S122, the control unit 11 proceeds to step S123. Then, the control unit 11 starts the body movement suppression notification operation by the display unit 12D and the speaker 12S, continues if the body movement suppression notification operation has already started, resumes if it has stopped after the start of the body movement suppression notification, and then proceeds to step S129.

[0122] That is, when the control unit 11 detects the body movement of the bather P1 in steps S109 and S122, it immediately executes the body movement suppression notification operation in step S123. As a result, the bather P1 who receives the body movement suppression notification operation will consciously suppress the body movement.

[0123] On the other hand, if the answer is "No" in step S122, the control unit 11 proceeds to step S129.

[0124] In this way, when the calculated SN ratio is less than the SN ratio determination value in step S114, the control unit 11 performs at least one of the following detection accuracy improvement operations to improve the SN ratio of the biological information in steps S116 to S123: the adjusted ventilation operation by the ventilation device 70, the adjusted lighting operation by the lighting device 4, the bubble supply operation by the fine bubble supply device 80, and the body movement suppression notification operation by the display unit 12D and the speaker 12S.

[0125] When shifting from step S114 shown in FIG. 3 to step S126 shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 11 estimates that the environment in the bathroom R1 is suitable for the execution of the photographing operation of the camera 40 and that no body movement of the bather P1 occurs. Then, if the control unit 11 is executing the adjustment ventilation operation, it stops; if it is executing the adjustment lighting operation, it stops; if it is executing the bubble supply operation, it stops; and if it is executing the body movement suppression notification operation, it stops.

[0126] Next, the control unit 11 shifts to step S127, returns the use suspension flag to "0", and then shifts to step S129.

[0127] When shifting from step S122, step S123, or step S127 to step S129, the control unit 11 determines whether the bather P1 is in or around the bathtub 3. The control unit 11 detects whether the bather P1 is in the bathtub 3 based on the detection result of the water level sensor 93. Also, the control unit 11 determines whether the bather P1 is around the bathtub 3 based on the photographed image of the camera 40.

[0128] If "Yes" in step S129, since the bather P1 is taking a bath, the control unit 11 returns to step S106 shown in FIG. 3 and repeats steps S106 to S129.

[0129] On the other hand, if "No" in step S129 shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 11 shifts to step S131 and determines that the bather P1 has finished taking a bath.

[0130] Next, the control unit 11 shifts to step S132 and ends the photographing operation of the camera 40.

[0131] Next, the control unit 11 shifts to step S133, stops the adjustment ventilation operation if it is being executed, stops the adjustment lighting operation if it is being executed, stops the bubble supply operation if it is being executed, stops the body movement suppression notification operation if it is being executed, and then ends this program.

[0132] <Advantages and effects> In the bathroom system 1 of the first embodiment, in step S111, the control unit 11 executes an SN ratio calculation process. In step S112, if the calculated SN ratio is less than the SN ratio determination value, it is estimated that the environment in the bathroom R1 is not suitable for the execution of the shooting operation of the camera 40 due to the generation of water vapor in the bathroom R1, the deviation from the appropriate range of the illuminance in the bathroom R1, the occurrence of irregular reflection due to the fluctuation of the hot water surface in the bathtub 3, or the body movement of the bather P1 has occurred.

[0133] At this time, the control unit 11 detects the generation of water vapor in the bathroom R1, the deviation from the appropriate range of the illuminance in the bathroom R1, the occurrence of irregular reflection due to the fluctuation of the hot water surface in the bathtub 3, and the occurrence of the body movement of the bather P1 by the detection processes in steps S106 to S109.

[0134] Then, in steps S116 to S123, as a detection accuracy improvement operation for improving the SN ratio of the biological information, the control unit 11 executes at least one of an adjusted ventilation operation by the ventilation device 70, an adjusted lighting operation by the lighting device 4, a bubble supply operation by the fine bubble supply device 80, and a body movement suppression notification operation by the display unit 12D and the speaker 12S.

[0135] The adjusted ventilation operation for ventilating the inside of the bathroom R1 by the ventilation device 70 can discharge water vapor to the outside of the bathroom R1 and suppress the generation of further water vapor. The adjusted lighting operation for adjusting the intensity of the light irradiated into the bathroom R1 by the lighting device 4 can eliminate the deviation from the appropriate range of the illuminance in the bathroom R1 and suppress the occurrence of whiteout in the captured image of the camera 40 or the entire captured image becoming dark and the difference in brightness becoming unclear. The bubble supply operation for supplying fine bubbles to the hot water in the bathtub 3 by the fine bubble supply device 80 can suppress the irregular reflection due to the fluctuation of the hot water surface in the bathtub 3. The bather P1 who has received the body movement suppression notification operation will consciously suppress the body movement.

[0136] As a result, it becomes easier for the control unit 11 to eliminate the cause that the calculated SN ratio is less than the SN ratio determination value. If the cause can be actually eliminated, the decrease in the detection accuracy of the camera 40 can be suppressed.

[0137] Therefore, the bathroom system 1 of Example 1 can improve the detection accuracy of the biometric information of the bather P1.

[0138] Also, in this bathroom system 1, in steps S106 to S109, the control unit 11 detects, by performing image processing on the captured image acquired from the camera 40, a cause of non - conformity indicating that the inside of the bathroom R1 is not suitable for the execution of the shooting operation of the camera 40, and the body movement of the bather P1. Then, in step S114, when the calculated SN ratio is less than the SN ratio determination value, if the cause of non - conformity is detected, the control unit 11 executes adjustment operations in steps S117, S119, and S121, and if the body movement is detected, the control unit 11 executes a body movement suppression notification operation in step S123. With this configuration, the control unit 11 can accurately and quickly detect the cause of non - conformity and body movement by image processing. And when the control unit 11 detects the cause of non - conformity, it can immediately execute the adjustment operation, and when it detects the body movement, it can immediately execute the body movement suppression notification operation. As a result, this bathroom system 1 can further reliably improve the detection accuracy of the biometric information of the bather P1.

[0139] Furthermore, in this bathroom system 1, in step S106, the control unit 11 can detect the generation of water vapor inside the bathroom R1 as a cause of non - conformity. And in step S116, when the control unit 11 detects the generation of water vapor, in step S117, it executes an adjusted ventilation operation. With this configuration, the control unit 11 can accurately and quickly detect the generation of water vapor inside the bathroom R1 by image processing. And when the control unit 11 detects the generation of water vapor, it can immediately execute the adjusted ventilation operation to ventilate the inside of the bathroom R1. As a result, this bathroom system 1 can further reliably improve the detection accuracy of the biometric information of the bather P1.

[0140] Also, in this bathroom system 1, the control unit 11 can detect, as a cause of non - compliance, a deviation from the appropriate range of illuminance in the bathroom R1 in step S107. And when the control unit 11 detects a deviation from the appropriate range of illuminance in the bathroom R1 in step S118, it executes an adjustment lighting operation in step S119. With this configuration, the control unit 11 can accurately and quickly detect a deviation from the appropriate range of illuminance in the bathroom R1 by image processing. And if the control unit 11 detects a deviation from the appropriate range of illuminance, it immediately executes an adjustment lighting operation. If the illuminance is smaller than the appropriate range, it can increase the light irradiating into the bathroom R1, and if the illuminance is larger than the appropriate range, it can weaken the light irradiating into the bathroom R1. Thereby, the control unit 11 can suppress the occurrence of whiteout in the captured image of the camera 40 or the entire captured image becoming dark and the difference in light and dark becoming unclear. As a result, this bathroom system 1 can further reliably improve the detection accuracy of the biological information of the bather P1.

[0141] Furthermore, in this bathroom system 1, the control unit 11 can detect, as a cause of non - compliance, that the fluctuation range of the luminance of the hot water surface in the bathtub 3 is larger than the specular reflection determination value in step S108. And when the control unit 11 detects that the fluctuation range of the luminance is larger than the specular reflection determination value in step S120, it executes a bubble supply operation in step S121. With this configuration, the control unit 11 can accurately and quickly detect specular reflection due to the fluctuation of the hot water surface in the bathtub 3 by image processing. And if the control unit 11 detects that the fluctuation range of the luminance is larger than the specular reflection determination value, it immediately executes a bubble supply operation, and by making the hot water surface in the bathtub 3 turbid, it can suppress specular reflection due to the fluctuation of the hot water surface in the bathtub 3. As a result, this bathroom system 1 can further reliably improve the detection accuracy of the biological information of the bather P1.

[0142] Also, in this bathroom system 1, in step S111, the control unit 11 executes biometric information detection processing to detect first biometric information including a pulse wave and second biometric information extracted from the first biometric information. In step S111, the control unit 11 executes signal-to-noise ratio calculation processing to calculate the signal-to-noise ratio of the detected first biometric information. Then, when it becomes "Yes" in step S112, the control unit 11 suspends the use of the first biometric information and the second biometric information detected while the calculated signal-to-noise ratio is less than the signal-to-noise ratio determination value. When the signal-to-noise ratio is less than the signal-to-noise ratio determination value, there is a high possibility that the accuracy of the first biometric information and the second biometric information is poor. Therefore, by suspending the use of the first biometric information and the second biometric information detected while the signal-to-noise ratio is less than the signal-to-noise ratio determination value, the first biometric information and the second biometric information with good accuracy can be used with high certainty.

[0143] (Example 2) In the bathroom system of Example 2, the control unit 11 is changed to execute the biometric information detection processing program shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 instead of the biometric information detection processing program shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 according to the bathroom system 1 of Example 1.

[0144] Accordingly, in Example 2, only the ventilation device 70 becomes an example of the "environment adjustment means" of the present invention, and the lighting device 4 and the fine bubble supply device 80 are no longer examples of the "environment adjustment means" of the present invention.

[0145] Other configurations of Example 2 are the same as those of Example 1. For this reason, the same components as those of Example 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted or simplified.

[0146] In order to improve the detection accuracy of the biometric information of the bather P1, the control unit 11 executes the biometric information detection processing program shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 when the power supplies of the hot water supply device 90 and the bathroom remote control 10 are turned on.

[0147] First, the control unit 11 executes steps S201 to S204 shown in FIG. 5. Since the processing contents of steps S201 to S204 are the same as those of steps S101 to S104 according to the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

[0148] After the control unit 11 executes steps S201 to S204, it proceeds to step S206, executes biometric information detection processing to detect first biometric information and second biometric information, and executes SN ratio detection processing. Since the processing content of step S206 is the same as that of step S111 according to the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

[0149] Next, the control unit 11 proceeds to step S207 and determines whether the usage suspension flag is "1".

[0150] If the result in step S207 is "No", the control unit 11 proceeds to step S208. Since the processing content of step S208 is the same as that of step S113 according to the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted. Thereafter, the control unit 11 proceeds to step S209.

[0151] On the other hand, if the result in step S207 is "Yes", the control unit 11 proceeds to step S209.

[0152] When proceeding from step S207 or step S208 to step S209, the control unit 11 determines whether the calculated SN ratio is less than the SN ratio determination value.

[0153] If the result in step S209 is "No", the control unit 11 proceeds to step S216. The processing after step S216 will be described later.

[0154] On the other hand, if the result in step S209 is "Yes", the control unit 11 proceeds to step S211 and changes the usage suspension flag to "1".

[0155] Next, the control unit 11 proceeds to step S212, starts the adjusted ventilation operation by the ventilation device 70, continues the adjusted ventilation operation if it has already started, or resumes it if it has stopped after the start of the adjusted ventilation operation. At this time, if it is the start or resumption of the adjusted ventilation operation, the control unit 11 stores the time of the start or resumption.

[0156] Next, the control unit 11 proceeds to step S213 and determines whether or not a prescribed time has elapsed since the time stored in step S212. The prescribed time is set to a time assumed to be sufficient for the adjusted ventilation operation to exhibit its effect.

[0157] If the answer in step S213 is "Yes", the control unit 11 proceeds to step S214. Then, the control unit 11 starts the body movement suppression notification operation by the display unit 12D and the speaker 12S, continues the body movement suppression notification operation if it has already started, or resumes it after resuming if it has stopped after the start of the body movement suppression notification, and then proceeds to step S219 shown in FIG. 6.

[0158] That is, in step S212, after executing the adjusted ventilation operation as the detection accuracy improvement operation, if the SN ratio does not become equal to or greater than the SN ratio determination value in step S209, the control unit 11 further executes the body movement suppression notification operation as the detection accuracy improvement operation in step S214.

[0159] On the other hand, if the answer in step S209 shown in FIG. 5 is "No", the control unit 11 proceeds to step S219 shown in FIG. 6.

[0160] When shifting from step S209 to step S216 shown in FIG. 5, the control unit 11 estimates that the environment in the bathroom R1 is suitable for the execution of the imaging operation of the camera 40 and that the body movement of the bather P1 does not occur. Then, if the adjusted ventilation operation is being executed, the control unit 11 stops it, and if the body movement suppression notification operation is being executed, the control unit 11 stops it. Also, the control unit 11 deletes the time stored in step S212.

[0161] Next, the control unit 11 proceeds to step S217. After resetting the suspension flag to "0", it proceeds to step S219 shown in FIG. 6.

[0162] When shifting from step S213, step S214, or step S217 shown in FIG. 5 to step S219 shown in FIG. 6, the control unit 11 determines whether the bather P1 is inside or around the bathtub 3 based on the detection result of the water level sensor 93 and the captured image of the camera 40.

[0163] If "Yes" in step S219, since the bather P1 is bathing, the control unit 11 returns to step S206 shown in FIG. 5 and repeats steps S206 to S219.

[0164] On the other hand, if "No" in step S219, the control unit 11 proceeds to step S221 and determines that the bather P1 has finished bathing.

[0165] Next, the control unit 11 proceeds to step S222 and ends the imaging operation of the camera 40.

[0166] Next, the control unit 11 proceeds to step S223. If the adjustment ventilation operation is being executed, it stops. If the body movement suppression notification operation is being executed, it stops and then ends this program.

[0167] <Operational Effects> In the bathroom system of the second embodiment, in step S206, the control unit 11 executes the SN ratio calculation process. In step S209, if the calculated SN ratio is less than the SN ratio determination value, it is estimated that the environment inside the bathroom R1 is not suitable for executing the imaging operation of the camera 40 due to the generation of water vapor inside the bathroom R1, or that body movement of the bather P1 has occurred.

[0168] Then, in step S212, as a detection accuracy improvement operation for improving the SN ratio of the biological information, the control unit 11 executes the adjustment ventilation operation by the ventilation device 70. As a result, water vapor can be discharged outside the bathroom R1, and further generation of water vapor can be suppressed.

[0169] As a result, the control unit 11 can easily eliminate the cause that the calculated SN ratio is less than the SN ratio determination value. If the cause can be actually eliminated, a decrease in the detection accuracy of the camera 40 can be suppressed.

[0170] Therefore, similar to the bathroom system 1 of the first embodiment, the bathroom system of the second embodiment can improve the detection accuracy of the biological information of the bather P1.

[0171] Also, in this bathroom system, in step S212, as a detection accuracy improvement operation, after the control unit 11 executes the adjusted ventilation operation by the ventilation device 70, in step S209, if the SN ratio does not become equal to or greater than the SN ratio determination value, further, in step S214, as a detection accuracy improvement operation, the control unit 11 executes a body movement suppression notification operation by the display unit 12D and the speaker 12S. With this configuration, even if the cause for which the calculated SN ratio is less than the SN ratio determination value cannot be eliminated by the adjusted ventilation operation, by further executing the body movement suppression notification operation as a detection accuracy improvement operation, the bather P1 who has received the body movement suppression notification operation will consciously suppress body movement, and the cause for which the calculated SN ratio is less than the SN ratio determination value can be eliminated with high certainty. As a result, this bathroom system 1 can improve the detection accuracy of the biological information of the bather P1 with high certainty.

[0172] In the above, the present invention has been described with reference to the first and second embodiments. However, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above first and second embodiments and can be appropriately modified and applied without departing from the gist thereof.

[0173] In the first and second embodiments, the detection means is the camera 40, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, a configuration in which a radar sensor that uses millimeter waves or microwaves is adopted as the detection means instead of the camera 40 is also included in the present invention.

[0174] In Embodiments 1 and 2, the camera 40 is provided integrally with the bathroom remote controller 10, and the control unit 11 controls the camera 40 to execute the biological information detection process. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, a configuration in which the camera 40 is provided separately from the bathroom remote controller 10 and the control unit 91 controls the camera 40 to execute the biological information detection process is also included in the present invention. Further, a configuration in which the camera 40 is provided separately from the bathroom remote controller 10, has a control unit similar to the control unit 11, and the control unit cooperates with the control unit 91 to execute at least a part of the biological information detection process is also included in the present invention.

[0175] A configuration in which the wireless communication unit 13 according to Embodiments 1 and 2 is removed from the bathroom remote controller 10, and the control unit 11 is connected to an external network NW1 via the control unit 91 of the hot water supply device 90, the wireless communication unit of the kitchen remote controller 20, and the wireless router 7, and executes network communication with an external server 9 or the like is also included in the present invention.

[0176] In Embodiment 1, the control unit 11 executes the biological information detection process program shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 when the power supplies of the hot water supply device 90 and the bathroom remote controller 10 are turned on. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, the control unit 11 may not execute the biological information detection process program shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 when the power supplies of the hot water supply device 90 and the bathroom remote controller 10 are turned on, and may execute the biological information detection process program when a resident or bather P1 of the house H1 performs an operation instructing the start of the biological information detection process program on the input unit 12B of the bathroom remote controller 10. The same applies when the control unit 11 executes the biological information detection process program shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 in Embodiment 2.

[0177] In Embodiment 2, the control unit 11 performs the body movement suppression notification operation when shifting to step S214 after executing the adjustment ventilation operation in step S212 of FIG. 5. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, regarding Embodiment 2, a configuration in which the control unit 11 is changed to execute the body movement suppression notification operation in step S212 and is changed to execute the adjustment ventilation operation in step S214 is also included in the present invention.

[0178] Regarding the second embodiment, a configuration in which the time when the process starts or resumes at step S212 in FIG. 5 is not stored and steps S213 and S214 are deleted is also included in the present invention. That is, a configuration in which, when the calculated SNR is less than the SNR determination value, the control unit executes only the adjustment operation as the detection accuracy improvement operation is also included in the present invention.

[0179] Regarding the second embodiment, a configuration in which steps S212 and S213 in FIG. 5 are deleted is also included in the present invention. That is, a configuration in which, when the calculated SNR is less than the SNR determination value, the control unit executes only the body movement suppression notification operation as the detection accuracy improvement operation is also included in the present invention.

Industrial Applicability

[0180] The present invention can be used, for example, in houses or facilities equipped with bathrooms.

Explanation of Signs

[0181] 1…Bathroom system R1…Bathroom P1…Bather 40…Detection means (imaging means (camera)) 11…Control unit 70, 4, 80…Environmental adjustment means (70…Ventilator, 4…Lighting device, 80…Microbubble supply device) 12D, 12S…Notification means (12D…Display unit, 12S…Speaker)

Claims

1. In a bathroom, a detection means for performing a detection operation of detecting the physical state of a bather; A control unit that controls the detection means and performs a biological information detection process of detecting biological information including at least the vital state of the bather, which is the biological information detected based on the physical state detected by the detection means and digitized; An environment adjustment means for adjusting the environment in the bathroom; A notification means for notifying the bather; A bathroom system comprising: The control unit executes an SN ratio calculation process for calculating the SN ratio of the detected biological information; When the calculated SN ratio is less than the SN ratio determination value, the control unit performs a detection accuracy improvement operation for improving the SN ratio of the biological information, which is an adjustment operation of adjusting the bathroom into an environment suitable for executing the detection operation by the environment adjustment means, and a body movement suppression notification operation of notifying the bather to suppress body movement in the bathroom by the notification means. The bathroom system is characterized by executing at least one of the detection accuracy improvement operations.

2. After the control unit executes one of the adjustment operation and the body movement suppression notification operation as the detection accuracy improvement operation, if the SN ratio does not become equal to or greater than the SN ratio determination value, the control unit further executes the other of the adjustment operation and the body movement suppression notification operation as the detection accuracy improvement operation. The bathroom system according to Claim 1.

3. The detection means is a photographing means that executes a photographing operation of photographing an image of the bather as the detection operation; The control unit detects a cause of non - conformity that the bathroom is no longer an environment suitable for executing the detection operation and the body movement of the bather by performing image processing on the photographed image acquired from the photographing means; When the calculated SN ratio is less than the SN ratio determination value, the control unit executes the adjustment operation when detecting the cause of non - conformity and executes the body movement suppression notification operation when detecting the body movement. The bathroom system according to Claim 1.

4. The environment adjustment means has a ventilation device that executes an adjustment ventilation operation of ventilating the bathroom as the adjustment operation; The control unit can detect the generation of water vapor in the bathroom as the cause of non - conformity; When the control unit detects the generation of water vapor, the control unit executes the adjustment ventilation operation. The bathroom system according to Claim 3.

5. The environmental adjustment means includes, as the adjustment operation, a lighting device that executes an adjustment lighting operation for adjusting the intensity of light irradiated into the bathroom so that the illuminance in the bathroom falls within an appropriate range. The control unit can detect, as the cause of non-compliance, a deviation of the illuminance in the bathroom from the appropriate range. The bathroom system according to claim 3, wherein the control unit executes the adjustment lighting operation when detecting a deviation of the illuminance in the bathroom from the appropriate range.

6. The environmental adjustment means includes, as the adjustment operation, a fine bubble supply device that executes a bubble supply operation for supplying fine bubbles to the hot water in the bathtub. The control unit can detect, as the cause of non-compliance, that the fluctuation range of the luminance of the hot water surface in the bathtub is larger than a specular reflection determination value. The bathroom system according to claim 3, wherein the control unit executes the bubble supply operation when detecting that the fluctuation range of the luminance is larger than the specular reflection determination value.

7. In the biological information detection process, the control unit detects first biological information and second biological information extracted from the first biological information. In the SNR calculation process, the control unit calculates the SNR of the detected first biological information. The bathroom system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the control unit suspends the use of the detected first biological information and second biological information while the calculated SNR is less than the SNR determination value.

Images