Toilet seat device

Abstract

To provide a toilet seat device capable of protecting a user's privacy.SOLUTION: A toilet seat device comprises a toilet seat provided on a top face of a toilet bowl, a body part 11 connected to one end portion of the toilet seat and configured to open and close the toilet seat, an extension part 18 provided on a toilet bowl inner side of the body part 11 and bulging toward the toilet bowl inner side, an irradiation part 22 provided on the extension part 18 and irradiating the toilet bowl with a laser beam, and a detection part 24 provided on the extension part 18 and detecting reflection light of the laser beam irradiated from the irradiation part 22.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Toilet devices that determine the health condition of a user have been known in the past.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 proposes a toilet device that has an image sensor on the back of the toilet seat and uses the image sensor to detect the state of excrement that has fallen into the toilet bowl and determine the health condition of the user. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-055522 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, with the technology described in Patent Document 1, when the toilet seat is open, the image sensor faces the front of the toilet bowl, which may result in capturing images of parts of the user that the user does not want to be captured, and this may result in a failure to protect the user's privacy.

[0006] In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a toilet seat device that can protect the privacy of the user. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided the following toilet seat device: This toilet seat device comprises a toilet seat provided on the upper surface of a toilet bowl, a main body connected to one end of the toilet seat and configured to be able to open and close the toilet seat, a bulging portion provided on the main body inside the toilet bowl and bulging toward the inside of the toilet bowl, an irradiation portion provided on the bulging portion and irradiating laser light toward the toilet bowl, and a detection portion provided on the bulging portion and detecting reflected light of the laser light irradiated from the irradiation portion.

[0008] According to this configuration, by arranging the illumination unit and detection unit in the bulging section that bulges out toward the toilet bowl, the illumination unit and detection unit face the inside of the toilet bowl regardless of whether the toilet seat is open or closed, which prevents areas of the user that the user does not want to be photographed from being photographed, thereby protecting the user's privacy.

[0009] In addition, in the toilet seat device according to the second aspect of the present invention, when the direction perpendicular to the direction in which the bulging portion bulges is defined as the left-right direction, the toilet seat device further includes a cleaning nozzle provided in the center of the bulging portion in the left-right direction, the cleaning nozzle being movable toward and away from the main body portion toward the inside of the toilet bowl, and the irradiation unit and the detection unit being provided separately on both left-right sides of the cleaning nozzle in the bulging portion.

[0010] With this configuration, the irradiation unit and the detection unit are provided separately on both the left and right sides of the washing nozzle, which makes it possible to prevent water used to wash the washing nozzle from splashing on the irradiation unit or the detection unit, compared to when the irradiation unit and the detection unit are provided separately on both the top and bottom sides of the washing nozzle. Also, compared to when the irradiation unit and the detection unit are provided separately on both the top and bottom sides of the washing nozzle, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the washing nozzle will physically interfere with the irradiation and detection of laser light, even when the detection unit detects reflected light of laser light when the washing nozzle is advanced inside the toilet bowl.

[0011] In addition, in the toilet seat device according to a third aspect of the present invention, the bulging portion bulges inward into the toilet bowl of the toilet, and the irradiation portion and the detection portion face the toilet bowl.

[0012] With this configuration, the detection unit and the irradiation unit face downward, which further reduces the possibility of capturing images of areas of the user that the user does not want to be captured, compared to when the bulging part is inside the toilet bowl and bulges outward, thereby protecting the user's privacy. Also, compared to when the bulging part is inside the toilet bowl and bulges outward, the distance to the excrement is closer, making it possible to more accurately detect the state of the excrement.

[0013] In addition, in the toilet seat device according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the irradiation section is larger than the detection section, and the irradiation section is provided across the bulging section and the main body section.

[0014] According to this configuration, it is possible to ensure a storage space for the irradiation unit, which is larger than the detection unit, compared to when the irradiation unit is provided only on the bulging portion.

[0015] In addition, the toilet seat device according to the fifth aspect of the present invention further includes a warm air drying device that is provided in the bulging portion and generates and supplies warm air, the warm air drying device having a warm air blowing unit that blows the warm air to the outside, the warm air blowing unit being provided to the left or right of the cleaning nozzle in the bulging portion, and the irradiation unit and the detection unit being provided on either side of the cleaning nozzle and the warm air blowing unit, respectively.

[0016] According to this configuration, even when a hot air dryer is installed, it is possible to prevent the water used to clean the cleaning nozzle from splashing onto the irradiation unit or the detection unit.

[0017] In addition, in the toilet seat device according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, a toilet seat provided in the bulging portion, + and O -The cleaning nozzle is further provided with an ion supply device that generates and supplies ions, the ion supply device having an ion supply unit that supplies the ions to the outside, the ion supply unit being provided on the left or right side of the cleaning nozzle in the bulging portion, and the irradiation unit and the detection unit being provided on either side of the cleaning nozzle and the ion supply unit.

[0018] According to this configuration, even when an ion supply device is installed, it is possible to prevent the water used to clean the cleaning nozzle from splashing onto the irradiation unit or the detection unit.

[0019] In addition, in the toilet seat device according to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the bulging portion has a front surface located inside the toilet bowl and a rear surface located on the main body side, and further includes a shutter provided on the front surface of the bulging portion, the shutter being configured to be openable and closable so that the cleaning nozzle is accommodated in the bulging portion when it retracts toward the main body side, and the irradiation unit and the detection unit are provided on the rear surface.

[0020] With this configuration, even if a shutter is provided, there is no shutter on the rear side, so the irradiation unit and detection unit remain exposed to the inside of the toilet bowl, allowing excrement to be detected regardless of whether the shutter is open or closed.

[0021] In addition, in the toilet seat device according to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the bulging portion has a front surface located inside the toilet bowl and a rear surface located on the main body side, and further includes a shutter provided on the front surface of the bulging portion, the warm air blowing portion is capable of advancing and retreating toward the inside of the toilet bowl relative to the main body portion, the shutter is configured to be openable and closable so that the cleaning nozzle and the warm air blowing portion are accommodated in the bulging portion when they retreat toward the main body portion, and the irradiation portion and the detection portion are provided on the rear surface.

[0022] With this configuration, even if a shutter is provided and there is a warm air blowing section in the bulge section, there is no shutter on the rear surface, so the irradiation section and detection section remain exposed to the inside of the toilet bowl regardless of whether the shutter is open or closed, and excrement can be detected.

[0023] In addition, the toilet seat device according to the ninth aspect of the present invention further comprises a cover provided on the bulge portion and capable of covering either the irradiation portion or the detection portion, the cover being partially or entirely light-transmitting and configured to be able to be opened and closed between a closed state in which it covers either the irradiation portion or the detection portion and an open state in which it does not cover.

[0024] With this configuration, the cover is easier to clean and it is easier to visually confirm that the dirt has been removed, compared to when the cover is not configured to be openable and closable and is fixed in a closed position.

[0025] In addition, the toilet seat device according to the tenth aspect of the present invention further comprises a cover provided on the bulge portion and capable of covering either the irradiation portion or the detection portion, the cover being partially or entirely light-transmitting and configured to be detachable from the bulge portion.

[0026] With this configuration, the cover is easier to clean than when the cover cannot be removed, and it is easier to visually confirm that the cover has been cleaned. [Effects of the Invention]

[0027] The toilet seat device according to the present invention can protect the privacy of the user. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0028] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view schematically showing an example of the overall configuration of a toilet system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of the toilet device of FIG. [Figure 3] 3 is a cross-sectional view of the toilet device shown in FIG. 2 taken along the line AA. [Figure 4] 4 is a schematic diagram of the toilet device shown in FIG. 3 when viewed from direction B with the shutter removed. [Figure 5]FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the configuration of the bulging portion of the toilet device as viewed from the left in the toilet system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the cover in FIG. 5 when it is in an open state. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0029] Hereinafter, each embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. To facilitate understanding of the description, the same components in the drawings will be denoted by the same reference numerals as much as possible, and duplicated descriptions will be omitted.

[0030] ---First embodiment--- First, a toilet system according to a first embodiment will be described.

[0031] <Overall structure> FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing an example of the overall configuration of a toilet system 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] As shown in Fig. 1, the toilet system 1 includes an operating device 2 and a toilet device 3. The operating device 2 and the toilet device 3 are provided, for example, in a toilet room R. In the toilet room R, the toilet device 3 is installed on a floor surface F. When viewed from a user seated on the toilet device 3, the front is "front," the rear is "rear," the vertically upward is "up," and the vertically downward is "down."

[0033] The operating device 2 is provided, for example, on a wall surface of the toilet room R. The operating device 2 is provided in a position where it can be operated by a user, for example, where it can be operated when the user is seated on the toilet device 3. The operating device 2 can communicate with the toilet device 3 via wired or wireless communication, and can send and receive information. The operating device 2 accepts various operations from the user via a touch panel or buttons, and executes processing.

[0034] The toilet device 3 is a device for treating excrement of a user. The toilet device 3 includes a toilet bowl 4, a toilet seat device 5, and a control device 7.

[0035] The toilet 4 is, for example, a ceramic toilet bowl. The toilet 4 is formed with a bowl portion 8. The bowl portion 8 is concave downwards and is a toilet bowl that receives the user's excrement. The toilet 4 is provided with a rim 10 around the entire edge of the opening that the bowl portion 8 faces. The toilet 4 is not limited to being a floor-standing type as shown in the figure, but may also be a wall-mounted type or other type. Furthermore, the toilet room R may be provided with, for example, a flush water tank that stores flush water near the toilet 4, or may be a so-called tankless type that does not have a flush water tank. For example, when the user operates an operating lever operating device (not shown), flush water is supplied to the bowl portion 8 of the toilet 4 and the toilet is flushed.

[0036] The toilet seat device 5 is attached to the top of the toilet bowl 4. The toilet seat device 5 comprises a main body 11, a toilet lid 12, a toilet seat 13, and a flushing nozzle 20. The toilet seat device 5 may be detachably attached to the toilet bowl 4, or may be attached so as to be integrated with the toilet bowl 4. The toilet seat device 5 is placed on the toilet bowl 4 so that the flushing nozzle 20 advances into the bowl portion 8 before spraying flushing water.

[0037] The main body 11 is a housing connected to one end of the toilet seat 13 and placed on the rim 10 where the bowl 8 is not formed. The main body 11 is attached and fixed to the toilet bowl 4. The main body 11 is connected to the toilet lid 12 and is rotatable around a pivotal support portion relative to the main body 11. This allows the toilet lid 12 and toilet seat 13 to be opened and closed relative to the toilet bowl 4.

[0038] The toilet lid 12 is a lid body connected to the main body 11. By rotating the toilet lid 12 relative to the main body 11, when closed it can close the bowl 8, and when opened it can expose the bowl 8. The toilet lid 12 may be omitted.

[0039] The toilet seat 13 is the part on which a user sits. The toilet seat 13 functions as a seating portion that supports the buttocks of a seated user. The toilet seat 13 is a ring-shaped member with an opening 16 in the center. The toilet seat 13 is provided on the upper surface of the toilet bowl 4, and is positioned relative to the toilet bowl 4 so that the bowl portion 8 and the opening 16 of the toilet seat 13 overlap. In other words, the toilet seat 13 is placed on the rim 10, and is positioned relative to the toilet bowl 4 so that the ring-shaped portion of the toilet seat 13 and the rim 10 overlap. Therefore, a user sitting on the toilet seat 13 can defecate into the bowl portion 8 of the toilet bowl 4.

[0040] The cleaning nozzle 20 is a nozzle for discharging water for cleaning (cleaning water). This cleaning nozzle 20 is a nozzle for cleaning private parts that can spray cleaning water toward a user sitting on the toilet seat 13. There is no limit to the number of cleaning nozzles 20. The cleaning nozzle 20 is configured to be able to advance and retreat toward the inside of the toilet bowl 4 (hereinafter referred to as "inside the toilet bowl") relative to the housing of the main body 11 by driving a driving source such as an electric motor. The cleaning nozzle 20 is also connected to a water source such as a water pipe (not shown). Figure 1 shows the cleaning nozzle 20 in an advanced position where it is advanced relative to the housing of the main body 11, and when in the advanced position, the cleaning nozzle 20 sprays water from the water source toward the user's body to clean the private parts.

[0041] The control device 7 is an information processing device that processes the user's excrement, and includes, for example, a CPU, memory, a communication unit, a storage device, etc. The control device 7 receives information obtained by optically measuring the excrement, such as spectral information, light intensity, refractive index, distance from the excrement, or time lapse information. The control device 7 determines the state of the excrement based on the information obtained by optically measuring the excrement. The state refers to the state of the excrement, such as the presence or absence of excrement, color, amount, flow rate (excrement amount per unit time), urination time (defecation time), shape, and properties. The state can be set appropriately depending on the purpose, such as health observation. Furthermore, there are no limitations on the method for calculating the state of urine, feces, etc. based on the information obtained by optically measuring the excrement, and various methods can be applied.

[0042] The control device 7 records (stores) the results of the excrement determination. This allows for excretion recording. The excretion record can be checked by the user or the like. The excretion record may be recorded in the control device 7 or may be recorded on a server, and the recording location is not limited. In one example, the control device 7 is provided in the toilet seat device 5, but the location where the control device 7 is provided is not limited.

[0043] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of the toilet device 3 of FIG.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 2, the toilet apparatus 3 has a bulging portion 18 bulging toward the inside of the bowl portion 8 on the inside of the toilet bowl 4 of the main body portion 11.

[0045] The bulging portion 18 is provided with the above-mentioned cleaning nozzle 20 and excretion detection portion 21. The bulging portion 18 has a shape in which, for example, the center portion bulges toward the inside of the bowl portion 8. The direction perpendicular to the bulging direction of the bulging portion 18 is the left-right direction, and when viewed from a user seated on the toilet seat 13, the left is the "left" and the right is the "right."

[0046] The excretion detection unit 21 is a sensor that detects excretion excreted in the bowl unit 8. The excretion detection unit 21 includes an irradiation unit 22 and a detection unit 24.

[0047] Irradiation unit 22 is provided in bulging portion 18 and irradiates laser light toward bowl portion 8. Specifically, irradiation unit 22 irradiates laser light downward from bulging portion 18, thereby irradiating the laser light onto excrement excreted into bowl portion 8. Irradiation unit 22 is a unitized configuration for irradiating laser light, such as a laser emitting device or a prism.

[0048] The detection unit 24 is provided in the bulging portion 18 and detects the reflected light of the laser light irradiated from the irradiation unit 22. Specifically, the detection unit 24 detects the reflected light of the laser light reflected by the excrement in the bowl portion 8. The detection unit 24 is a unitized configuration for detecting the laser light, such as a focusing lens and a detection sensor (CMOS).

[0049] The information on the excrement detected by the excrement detection unit 21 is, for example, spectral information, light intensity, refractive index, distance from the excrement, or time lapse information thereof, etc. The information on the excrement detected by the excrement detection unit 21 is output to the control device 7 described above.

[0050] <Detailed configuration of the bulging portion 18> The detailed configuration of the bulging portion 18 will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0051] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the toilet device 3 shown in FIG. 2 taken along the line AA.

[0052] As shown in Figure 3, the bulging portion 18 has a front surface 181 located inside the toilet bowl 4 and a rear surface 182 located on the main body 11 side. The front surface 181 is provided with a shutter 60 and a cleaning unit 201. The rear surface 182 is provided with an irradiation unit 22 and a detection unit 24, but is not provided with a shutter 60.

[0053] The shutter 60 is configured to be openable and closable so as to be housed in the bulge 18 when the cleaning nozzle 20 retracts toward the main body 11. That is, when advancing, the shutter 60 opens and the cleaning nozzle 20 advances forward, and when retracting, the cleaning nozzle 20 retracts rearward and the shutter 60 closes and is housed. Specifically, the shutter 60 is rotatably attached to the bulge 18 via a pivot shaft (not shown). The pivot shaft extends in the left-right direction. The shutter 60 opens by rotating in one direction around the pivot shaft, and closes by rotating in the opposite direction.

[0054] The cleaning nozzle 20 is cleaned while housed in the bulging portion 18. The cleaning nozzle 20 is cleaned using water (hereinafter referred to as "nozzle cleaning water") while housed in the bulging portion 18. For example, a cleaning section 201 is provided corresponding to the housed position of the cleaning nozzle 20 in the bulging portion 18, and discharges nozzle cleaning water to the cleaning nozzle 20. This cleans the discharge port of the cleaning nozzle 20. Note that the cleaning nozzle 20 may be self-cleaning by the cleaning nozzle 20 itself discharging nozzle cleaning water.

[0055] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the toilet device 3 shown in FIG. 3 when viewed from direction B with the shutter 60 removed.

[0056] As shown in Fig. 4, the front surface 181 of the bulging portion 18 is provided with the cleaning nozzle 20, the warm air drying device 50, the ion supplying device 55, the right shutter locking claw 62, and the left shutter locking claw 64. The rear surface 182 of the bulging portion 18 is provided with the irradiation unit 22 and the detection unit 24, which are indicated by dotted lines. The bulging portion 18 also has a right end portion 184 and a left end portion 185. In Fig. 4, the center line 18L of the bulging portion 18 in the left-right direction is indicated by a dotted line.

[0057] The warm air drying device 50 is a device that blows warm air toward the user's private parts. The warm air drying device 50 dries the user's private parts by blowing warm air onto the user's private parts that have become wet, for example, during private washing. The warm air drying device 50 has a warm air generating unit (not shown) and a warm air blowing unit 52. The warm air generating unit heats the air that is sent to the outside of the bulging portion 18 by the warm air blowing unit 52. The warm air blowing unit 52 blows the warm air to the outside. The warm air blowing unit 52 is provided on the left or right side of the washing nozzle 20 in the bulging portion 18. In the first embodiment, the warm air blowing unit 52 is provided on the left side of the washing nozzle 20. The warm air blowing unit 52 is configured to be able to advance and retreat toward the inside of the toilet bowl 4 relative to the main body 11 by being driven by a drive source such as an electric motor. When the hot air blowing section 52 moves back relative to the main body 11, the shutter 60 closes and the hot air blowing section 52 is housed within the bulging section 18. The hot air drying device 50 may be operated by the operating device 2.

[0058] The ion supply device 55 is a device that ionizes air to generate ions, blows gas containing the ions, and sterilizes and disinfects an object to be blown. The ion supply device 55 has an ion generation unit (not shown) that generates ions, and an ion supply unit 57. The ion supply unit supplies the ions to the outside. The ion supply unit 57 is provided on the left or right side of the cleaning nozzle 20 in the bulging portion 18. In the first embodiment, the warm air blowing unit 52 is provided to the right of the cleaning nozzle 20. Note that the ion supply device 55 may be a device that ejects or sprays a liquid, in addition to a device that blows gas. The ion supply device 55 may be operated by the operating device 2.

[0059] The right shutter locking claw 62 and the left shutter locking claw 64 are claws for locking the shutter 60 shown in Figure 3 to the bulging portion 18. By engaging the shutter 60 with the respective locking claws 62, 64, the shutter 60 is locked to the bulging portion 18.

[0060] Because the irradiation unit 22 requires a configuration for emitting laser light, the irradiation unit 22 is larger than the detection unit 24. Therefore, the irradiation unit 22 is provided across the rear surface 182 of the bulge 18 and the main body 11. In other words, the irradiation unit 22 extends across the rear surface 182 and the main body 11. The surface from which the laser light is emitted from the irradiation unit 22 to the outside is called the emission surface 221. This emission surface 221 faces from the bulge 18 toward the inside of the bowl 8. Furthermore, the surface of the detection unit 24 that receives reflected light from the outside is called the light-receiving surface 241. The light-receiving surface 241 of the detection unit 24 faces from the bulge 18 toward the inside of the bowl 8.

[0061] The cleaning nozzle 20 is cleaned inside the bulge 18, and there is a possibility that the nozzle cleaning water will splash around during cleaning. There is also a possibility that the nozzle cleaning water will move along components, for example. The excretion detection unit 21 emits and detects laser light to detect excrement, and if the nozzle cleaning water adheres to the irradiation unit 22 or the detection unit 24, the detection accuracy may be degraded. In particular, if the nozzle cleaning water adheres to the emission surface 221 or the light receiving surface 241, the detection accuracy may be affected.

[0062] For this reason, the irradiation unit 22 and the detection unit 24 are provided on both left and right sides of the bulging portion 18, sandwiching the cleaning nozzle 20, the warm air blower 52, and the ion supply unit 57. That is, they are arranged so that the cleaning nozzle 20, the warm air blower 52, and the ion supply unit 57 are located between the irradiation unit 22 and the detection unit 24 when stored. This arrangement can prevent the nozzle cleaning water from splashing on the irradiation unit 22 or the detection unit 24, compared to when the irradiation unit 22 and the detection unit 24 are separately provided on both vertical sides of the cleaning nozzle 20.

[0063] The right end portion 184 is an end portion where the bulging portion 18 is connected to the main body portion 11 in the right direction of the bulging portion 18.

[0064] The left end 185 is the end of the bulging portion 18 at which the bulging portion 18 is connected to the main body portion 11 on the left side of the bulging portion 18 .

[0065] The ratio of the distance from the center line 18L to the irradiation unit 22 to the distance from the irradiation unit 22 to the left end 185 may be 9:1 to 1:9, preferably 9:1 to 1:1, and more preferably 9:1, 8:1, 7:1, 6:1, 5:1, 4:1, 3:1, or 2:1. The ratio of the distance from the center line 18L to the irradiation unit 22 to the distance from the left end 185 to the irradiation unit 22 may include any of the above-mentioned combinations of numerical values. The farther the irradiation unit 22 is installed from the center line 18L, the less likely it is that the cleaning nozzle 20 will physically interfere with the irradiation and detection of the laser light, even when the detection unit 24 detects reflected light of the laser light when the cleaning nozzle 20 is advanced inside the toilet bowl 4.

[0066] The ratio of the distance from the center line 18L to the detection unit 24 to the distance from the detection unit 24 to the right end 184 may be 9:1 to 1:9, preferably 9:1 to 1:1, and more preferably 9:1, 8:1, 7:1, 6:1, 5:1, 4:1, 3:1, or 2:1. The ratio of the distance from the center line 18L to the detection unit 24 to the distance from the right end 184 to the detection unit 24 may include any of the above-mentioned numerical combinations. The farther the detection unit 24 is installed from the center line 18L, the less likely it is that the cleaning nozzle 20 will physically interfere with the irradiation and detection of laser light, even when the detection unit 24 detects reflected light of laser light when the cleaning nozzle 20 is advanced inside the toilet bowl 4.

[0067] <Action and effect> As described above, the toilet seat device 5 of this embodiment comprises a toilet seat 13 provided on the top surface of the toilet bowl 4, a main body 11 connected to one end of the toilet seat 13 and configured to open and close the toilet seat 13, a bulging portion 18 provided on the inside of the toilet bowl 4 of the main body 11 and bulging toward the inside of the toilet bowl 4, an irradiation portion 22 provided in the bulging portion 18 and irradiating laser light toward the toilet bowl 4, and a detection portion 24 provided in the bulging portion 18 and detecting reflected light of the laser light irradiated from the irradiation portion 22.

[0068] According to this configuration, by arranging the irradiation unit 22 and the detection unit 24 in the bulging portion 18 that bulges out toward the toilet bowl 4, the irradiation unit 22 and the detection unit 24 face the inside of the toilet bowl 4 regardless of whether the toilet seat 13 is open or closed, which prevents areas of the user that the user does not want to be imaged from being captured, thereby protecting the user's privacy.

[0069] In addition, the toilet seat device 5 further includes a cleaning nozzle 20 that is provided in the center of the bulging portion 18 in the left-right direction when the direction perpendicular to the bulging direction of the bulging portion 18 is defined as the left-right direction, and the cleaning nozzle 20 is capable of advancing and retreating toward the inside of the toilet bowl 4 relative to the main body portion 11, and the irradiation unit 22 and the detection unit 24 are provided separately on both sides of the cleaning nozzle 20 in the left-right direction in the bulging portion 18.

[0070] According to this configuration, the irradiation unit 22 and the detection unit 24 are provided separately on both the left and right sides of the washing nozzle 20, which makes it possible to prevent the water used to wash the washing nozzle 20 from splashing on the irradiation unit 22 and the detection unit 24, compared to when the irradiation unit 22 and the detection unit 24 are provided separately on both the top and bottom sides of the washing nozzle 20. Also, compared to when the irradiation unit 22 and the detection unit 24 are provided separately on both the top and bottom sides of the washing nozzle 20, even when the washing nozzle 20 is advanced inside the toilet bowl 4 and the detection unit 24 detects reflected light of the laser light, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the washing nozzle 20 will physically interfere with the irradiation and detection of the laser light.

[0071] Furthermore, in the toilet seat device 5, the bulging portion 18 bulges inward into the toilet bowl of the toilet 4, and the irradiation unit 22 and the detection unit 24 face the toilet bowl.

[0072] With this configuration, because the irradiation unit 22 and the detection unit 24 face downward, it is possible to further prevent areas of the user that the user does not want to be imaged from being captured, thereby protecting the user's privacy, compared to when the bulging unit 18 is inside the toilet bowl 4 and bulges outward. Also, compared to when the bulging unit 18 is inside the toilet bowl 4 and bulges outward, the distance to the excrement is closer, making it possible to more accurately detect the state of the excrement.

[0073] Furthermore, in the toilet seat device 5, the irradiation unit 22 is larger than the detection unit 24, and the irradiation unit 22 is provided across the bulging portion 18 and the main body portion 11.

[0074] According to this configuration, it is possible to ensure a storage space for the irradiation unit 22 that is larger than the detection unit 24, compared to when the irradiation unit 22 is provided only on the bulging portion 18.

[0075] The toilet seat device 5 further includes a warm air drying device 50 that is provided in the bulging portion 18 and generates and supplies warm air, and the warm air drying device 50 has a warm air blowing section 52 that blows the warm air to the outside, and the warm air blowing section 52 is provided to the left or right of the cleaning nozzle 20 in the bulging portion 18, and the irradiation section 22 and the detection section 24 are provided on either side of the cleaning nozzle 20 and the warm air blowing section 52, respectively.

[0076] According to this configuration, even when the hot air drying device 50 is installed, it is possible to prevent the water used to clean the cleaning nozzle 20 from splashing on the irradiation unit 22 and the detection unit 24.

[0077] In addition, in the toilet seat device 5, a bulging portion 18 is provided, and H + and O - The ion supply device 55 has an ion supply unit 57 that supplies the ions to the outside, and the ion supply unit 57 is provided on the left or right side of the cleaning nozzle 20 in the bulging portion 18, and the irradiation unit 22 and the detection unit 24 are provided on either side of the cleaning nozzle 20 and the ion supply unit 57, respectively.

[0078] According to this configuration, even when the ion supply device 55 is installed, it is possible to prevent the water used to clean the cleaning nozzle 20 from splashing on the irradiation unit 22 and the detection unit 24.

[0079] In addition, in the toilet seat device 5, the bulge portion 18 has a front surface 181 located inside the toilet bowl 4 and a rear surface 182 located on the main body portion 11 side, and further includes a shutter 60 provided on the front surface 181 of the bulge portion 18, the shutter 60 being configured to be openable and closable so that the cleaning nozzle 20 is accommodated in the bulge portion 18 when it retracts toward the main body portion 11, and the irradiation portion 22 and detection portion 24 are provided on the rear surface 182.

[0080] According to this configuration, even if a shutter 60 is provided, the shutter 60 is not provided on the rear surface 182, so the irradiation unit 22 and the detection unit 24 can detect excrement while exposed to the inside of the toilet bowl 4 regardless of whether the shutter 60 is open or closed.

[0081] In addition, in the toilet seat device 5, the shutter 60 is configured to be openable and closable so that the warm air blowing section 52 is accommodated in the bulge 18 when it retreats toward the main body 11, and the warm air blowing section 52 can advance and retreat toward the inside of the toilet bowl 4 relative to the main body 11.

[0082] According to this configuration, even if a shutter 60 is provided and a warm air blowing section 52 is present in the bulging section 18, the shutter 60 is not provided on the rear surface 182, so the irradiation section 22 and the detection section 24 are exposed to the inside of the toilet bowl 4 and can detect excrement regardless of whether the shutter 60 is open or closed.

[0083] ---Second embodiment--- Next, a toilet system according to a second embodiment will be described.

[0084] In the second embodiment, the configuration of the bulging portion 18 is different from that of the first embodiment. Note that a description of the same points as in the first embodiment will be omitted. Also, the second embodiment can be combined with the first embodiment.

[0085] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the bulging portion 18 of the toilet device as seen from the left in the toilet system according to the second embodiment.

[0086] 5, a cover 70 is provided on the bulging portion 18. Below, a configuration in which the cover 70 covers the irradiation unit 22 will be described, but the cover 70 may also be configured to cover the detection unit 24. Alternatively, the cover 70 may be configured to cover both the irradiation unit 22 and the detection unit 24.

[0087] The cover 70 is provided on the bulge 18 so as to be able to cover the irradiation unit 22. This configuration makes it possible to prevent nozzle cleaning water, water splashed from the toilet bowl, urine, etc. from adhering to the irradiation unit 22, and also to prevent a decrease in the detection accuracy of the detection unit 24, compared to when the cover 70 is not provided. The cover 70 is partially or entirely translucent. This allows the irradiation unit 22 to irradiate excrement with laser light even when the irradiation unit 22 is covered by the cover 70.

[0088] The cover 70 is attached to the bulge portion 18 so as to be openable and closable between a closed state in which it covers the irradiation portion 22 and an open state in which it does not cover the irradiation portion 22. Specifically, the cover 70 is attached to the bulge portion 18 so as to be rotatable via a rotation shaft (not shown). In this embodiment, the rotation shaft extends along the left-right direction. The cover 70 opens by rotating in one direction around the rotation shaft, and closes by rotating in the opposite direction. Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of Figure 5 when the cover is in the open state. Furthermore, the cover 70 may be attached so as to be detachable from the bulge portion 18.

[0089] <Action and effect> As described above, the toilet seat device 5 of this embodiment further includes a cover 70 that is provided on the bulge portion 18 and is capable of covering either the irradiation portion 22 or the detection portion 24, and the cover 70 is partially or entirely light-transmitting and is configured to be able to open and close between a closed state in which it covers either the irradiation portion 22 or the detection portion 24, and an open state in which it does not cover either the irradiation portion 22 or the detection portion 24.

[0090] With this configuration, the cover 70 is easier to clean and it is easier to visually confirm that the dirt has been removed, compared to when the cover 70 is not configured to be openable and closable but is fixed in a closed position.

[0091] Furthermore, in the toilet seat device 5, the cover 70 may be configured to be detachable from the bulging portion 18.

[0092] According to this configuration, cleaning of the cover 70 is easier than when the cover 70 cannot be removed, and it is easier to visually confirm that the cover 70 has been cleaned.

[0093] ---Variations--- The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. In other words, designs that are produced by those skilled in the art with appropriate design modifications to the above-described specific examples are also included within the scope of the present invention as long as they include the features of the present invention. Furthermore, the elements of the above-described embodiments and the following modifications can be combined to the extent technically possible, and such combinations are also included within the scope of the present invention as long as they include the features of the present invention.

[0094] For example, in the first embodiment, bulging portion 18 has a shape in which the center portion bulges toward the inside of bowl portion 8, but the shape of bulging portion 18 is not limited to the above. For example, bulging portion 18 may have a shape that protrudes into bowl portion 8 in the shape of a substantially rectangular parallelepiped. Furthermore, the bulging direction of bulging portion 18 is not limited to a direction toward the inside of bowl portion 8, and it may bulge, for example, toward the upper or front inside of toilet bowl 4.

[0095] In the first embodiment, the irradiation unit 22 and the detection unit 24 are disposed on either side of the cleaning nozzle 20, but the irradiation unit 22 and the detection unit 24 do not have to be disposed on either side of the cleaning nozzle 20. For example, the irradiation unit 22 may be disposed in the center of the bulging portion 18 in the left-right direction, or the irradiation unit 22 may be disposed on the front surface 181. The detection unit 24 may also be disposed in the center of the bulging portion 18 in the left-right direction, or the detection unit 24 may be disposed on the front surface 181.

[0096] Furthermore, each element such as the cleaning nozzle 20, the warm air blower 52, the ion supplier 57, etc. may be provided on either the front surface 181 or the rear surface 182 of the bulging portion .

[0097] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the case where one washing nozzle 20 is provided has been described, but a plurality of washing nozzles 20, such as a rear end nozzle and a bidet nozzle, may be provided.

[0098] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the case where the irradiating unit 22 is larger than the detecting unit 24 has been described, but the size of the irradiating unit 22 relative to the detecting unit 24 is not limited to the above, and for example, the irradiating unit 22 may be smaller than or approximately the same as the detecting unit 24. Furthermore, the case where the irradiating unit 22 is provided across the rear surface 182 and the main body unit 11 has been described, but the irradiating unit 22 may be provided only on the front surface 181 or the rear surface 182. Furthermore, the detecting unit 24 may be provided across the main body unit 11 and the rear surface 182.

[0099] Furthermore, the illumination unit 22 or the detection unit 24 may be configured to be able to advance and retreat toward the inside of the toilet bowl 4 relative to the main body 11 by being driven by a drive source such as an electric motor. Furthermore, the illumination unit 22 or the detection unit 24 may be operated by the operating device 2.

[0100] Furthermore, when opening and closing the shutter 60, the way in which the shutter 60 moves is not limited. For example, the shutter 60 may have a structure that allows it to be opened and closed by sliding. The shutter 60 may also be provided on the rear surface 182. Furthermore, the shutter 60 may also be provided on a part or all of the front surface 181.

[0101] Alternatively, two covers 70 may be provided, with the irradiation unit 22 covered by one cover 70 and the detection unit 24 covered by the other cover 70. Alternatively, one cover 70 may cover both the irradiation unit 22 and the detection unit 24.

[0102] The cover 70 may be opened, closed, or attached / detached manually or automatically. The cover 70 may be operated by the operating device 2. Only the center of the cover 70 may be translucent, or the entire cover 70 may be translucent.

[0103] Furthermore, the operating device 2 is described as being provided on the wall surface of the toilet room R, but it may also be provided integrally with the toilet seat device 5. [Explanation of symbols]

[0104] 4: Toilet 5: Toilet seat device 11: Main body 13: Toilet seat 18 :bulge 20: Cleaning nozzle 22: Irradiation unit 24: Detection unit 50: Warm air drying device 52: Warm air blower 55: Ion supply device 57: Ion supply unit 60: Shutter 70: Cover 181:Front 182: Rear

Claims

1. a toilet seat provided on the top surface of the toilet bowl; a main body connected to one end of the toilet seat and configured to be able to open and close the toilet seat; a bulging portion provided on the main body portion inside the toilet bowl and bulging toward the inside of the toilet bowl; an irradiation unit provided in the bulging portion and irradiating laser light toward the toilet bowl; a detection unit provided in the bulging portion and configured to detect reflected light of the laser light irradiated from the irradiation unit; A toilet seat device comprising:

2. The cleaning device further includes a cleaning nozzle provided at a center of the bulging portion in the left-right direction, where the direction perpendicular to the bulging direction of the bulging portion is defined as the left-right direction, The cleaning nozzle is movable toward and away from the main body portion toward the inside of the toilet bowl, The irradiation unit and the detection unit are provided separately on both sides of the bulging portion in the left and right direction of the cleaning nozzle, 2. The toilet seat apparatus of claim 1.

3. The bulging portion bulges toward the inside of the toilet bowl, The irradiation unit and the detection unit face the toilet bowl.

2. The toilet seat apparatus of claim 1.

4. the irradiation unit is larger than the detection unit, The irradiation unit is provided across the bulge and the main body.

2. The toilet seat apparatus of claim 1.

5. Further, a hot air drying device is provided in the bulging portion and generates and supplies hot air, The hot air drying device has a hot air blowing unit that blows the hot air to the outside, The hot air blowing section is provided on the bulging section to the left or right of the cleaning nozzle, The irradiation unit and the detection unit are provided on either side of the cleaning nozzle and the hot air blower.

3. The toilet seat apparatus of claim 2.

6. The protrusion is provided on the bulging portion, and H ＋ and O － An ion supply device that generates and supplies the ion supply device has an ion supply unit that supplies the ions to an outside, the ion supply unit is provided on the left or right side of the cleaning nozzle in the bulging portion, The irradiation unit and the detection unit are provided on opposite sides of the cleaning nozzle and the ion supply unit, respectively.

3. The toilet seat apparatus of claim 2.

7. The bulge portion has a front surface located inside the toilet bowl and a rear surface located on the main body portion side, a shutter provided on the front surface of the bulging portion, the shutter is configured to be openable and closable so as to be housed in the bulging portion when the cleaning nozzle retracts toward the main body portion, The irradiation unit and the detection unit are provided on the rear surface.

3. The toilet seat apparatus of claim 2.

8. The bulge portion has a front surface located inside the toilet bowl and a rear surface located on the main body portion side, a shutter provided on the front surface of the bulging portion, The hot air blowing unit is movable toward and away from the main body unit toward the inside of the toilet bowl, The shutter is configured to be openable and closable so that the cleaning nozzle and the hot air blower are accommodated in the bulging portion when they are retracted toward the main body portion, The irradiation unit and the detection unit are provided on the rear surface.

6. The toilet seat apparatus of claim 5.

9. a cover provided on the bulging portion and capable of covering either the irradiation portion or the detection portion; The cover is partially or entirely light-transmitting and is configured to be openable and closable between a closed state in which it covers either the irradiation unit or the detection unit and an open state in which it does not cover either the irradiation unit or the detection unit. The toilet seat device according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. a cover provided on the bulging portion and capable of covering either the irradiation portion or the detection portion; The cover is partially or entirely light-transmitting and configured to be detachable from the bulge portion. The toilet seat device according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

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