Bathtub apparatus

Abstract

To provide a bathtub device capable of sufficiently securing the safety of a bathing person and coping with an electric apparatus with large power consumption.SOLUTION: The present invention is a bathtub apparatus (1) provided with accompanying electrical devices, comprising a bathtub main body (2) for storing hot water, one or a plurality of electrical devices provided in the bathtub main body or supplied with power via the bathtub main body, a power supply part (10) for supplying power to the one or plurality of electrical devices, and a power source part (12) connected to a commercial power source (18) and transmitting power to the power supply part, the power source unit transmits power to the power supply unit by using a first power supply system (11a) for transmitting power in a non-contact manner and a second power supply system (11b) for transmitting power in a contact manner.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a bathtub apparatus, and more particularly to a bathtub apparatus with associated electrical equipment. [Background technology]

[0002] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2022-16063 (Patent Document 1) describes a bathtub device. This bathtub device is equipped with electrodes for acquiring the bather's electrocardiogram signal, and the bather's electrocardiogram signal is detected by the electrodes via the hot water stored in the bathtub. By acquiring the bather's heart rate in this way, it is expected that a bathtub can be developed that can visualize the bather's condition, provide bathing suggestions based on that condition, and provide an optimal bathing experience. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-16063 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] On the other hand, in bathtubs equipped with electrical equipment used in the bathtub, such as the bathtub apparatus described in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to minimize the risk of bathers receiving an electric shock due to equipment failure, etc. In addition, there are many electrical devices that are desired to be used in bathtubs, and it is also necessary to address the increase in power consumption that results from their use.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a bathtub apparatus that can accommodate electrical appliances with high power consumption while fully ensuring the safety of bathers. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a bathtub apparatus equipped with accompanying electrical equipment, which comprises a bathtub body for storing hot and cold water, one or more electrical equipment provided in the bathtub body or supplied with power via the bathtub body, a power supply unit that supplies power to the one or more electrical equipment, and a power supply unit that is connected to a commercial power source and transmits power to the power supply unit, and is characterized in that the power supply unit transmits power to the power supply unit using a first power supply system that transmits power contactlessly and a second power supply system that transmits power contactwise.

[0007] According to the present invention, power is transmitted from the power supply unit to the power supply unit via the first power supply system, which transmits power contactlessly. This completely separates the power supply unit from the commercial power source, ensuring extremely high safety for bathers. Furthermore, the power supply unit can also transmit power to the power supply unit via the second power supply system, making it possible to accommodate cases where the power consumption of associated electrical devices is high.

[0008] In the present invention, preferably, the device further includes a power supply control unit that controls the transmission of power from the power supply unit to the power supply unit, and the power supply control unit executes the transmission of power using the first power supply system and / or the second power supply system depending on the power usage status of one or more electrical devices.

[0009] According to the present invention configured in this manner, the power supply control unit transmits power using the first power supply system and / or the second power supply system depending on the power usage status of one or more electrical devices, so that the power supply system can be selected depending on the power usage status, and appropriate power transmission can be performed.

[0010] In the present invention, preferably, the power supply control unit transmits power only through the first power supply system when the power consumption by one or more electrical devices is equal to or less than a predetermined value, and transmits power through the second power supply system when the power consumption by one or more electrical devices exceeds the predetermined value.

[0011] According to the present invention configured as described above, when the power consumption of the electrical device is equal to or less than a predetermined value, power is transmitted only through the first power supply system, thereby ensuring absolute safety when the power consumption is equal to or less than the predetermined value.Furthermore, when the power consumption of the electrical device exceeds the predetermined value, power is transmitted through the second power supply system, thereby making it possible to cope with an increase in power consumption.

[0012] In the present invention, the power transmitted by the second power supply system is preferably supplied to the power supply unit via an insulating transformer equipped with a contact prevention plate.

[0013] According to the present invention configured in this manner, the power transmitted by the second power supply system is supplied to the power supply unit via an insulating transformer equipped with a contact prevention plate, so that sufficient safety for bathers can be ensured even when using a second power supply system that transmits power in a contact-type manner.

[0014] In the present invention, the power transmitted by the second power supply system is preferably supplied to the power supply unit via an isolated DC-DC converter.

[0015] According to the present invention configured in this manner, the power transmitted by the second power supply system is supplied to the power supply unit via an isolated DC-DC converter, so that sufficient safety for bathers can be ensured even when using a second power supply system that transmits power contact-wise.

[0016] In the present invention, the electrical equipment preferably includes an electrocardiogram signal detection device that detects the electrocardiogram signal of a bather, a bathtub cleaning device, a bathtub sterilization device, a bathtub lighting device, a mobile terminal, a massager, or a bath lift.

[0017] According to the present invention configured in this manner, the electrical equipment includes an electrocardiogram signal detection device that detects the bather's electrocardiogram signal, a bathtub cleaning device, a bathtub sterilization device, a bathtub lighting device, a mobile terminal, a massager, or a bath lift, thereby providing bathers and users of the bathtub equipment with sufficient comfort and convenience. [Effects of the Invention]

[0018] The bathtub apparatus of the present invention can accommodate electrical appliances with high power consumption while fully ensuring the safety of bathers. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing the entire bathroom in which a bathtub apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention is installed. [Figure 2] 1 is a perspective view of a bathtub apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention, seen obliquely from above. [Figure 3] 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of an electrical system of a bathtub apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an electrocardiogram signal detection device in a bathtub apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of power transmission through a first power supply system and a second power supply system between a power source unit and a power supply unit in a bathtub apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 6] 3 is a diagram showing an example of a signal waveform acquired by an electrocardiogram signal detection device in the bathtub apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing an example of power transmission through a first power supply system and a second power supply system between a power source unit and a power supply unit in a bathtub apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] Next, a bathtub apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the entire bathroom in which a bathtub apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention is installed. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the bathtub apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, seen obliquely from above. Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing an outline of the electrical system of the bathtub apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] As shown in Figure 1, the bathtub apparatus 1 of the first embodiment of the present invention comprises a bathtub main body 2, a negative electrode 4a, a positive electrode 4b, and a reference electrode 4c attached to the bathtub main body 2, an electrocardiogram signal detection device 6 that processes signals acquired by the electrodes, and a water discharge device 7 attached to the upper edge of the bathtub main body 2, and is installed in a bathroom R. A remote control 6a is also attached to the wall of the bathroom R, and this remote control 6a can be used to operate the bathtub apparatus 1's electrocardiogram signal display function and the water discharge device 7. The negative electrode 4a, positive electrode 4b, reference electrode 4c, and electrocardiogram signal detection device 6 constitute an electrocardiogram signal detection device, and this electrocardiogram signal detection device is an example of an electrical device installed in the bathtub main body.

[0022] The bathtub body 2 is formed in a roughly rectangular box shape in a plan view and is configured to store hot and cold water inside. In this embodiment, the bathtub body 2 is positioned so that one long side and the entire two short sides on either side of it are in contact with the inner wall surface of the bathroom R. In addition, the inner wall surface that forms one short side of the bathtub body 2 is configured as a backrest surface 2a that the bather can lean against.

[0023] The water discharge device 7 is provided on the upper part of the backrest surface 2a of the bathtub main body 2, and is configured to discharge hot water toward the inside of the bathtub main body 2. As shown in Figure 2, in this embodiment, the water discharge device 7 has a flat, wide water outlet 7a that extends along the upper edge of the backrest surface 2a, and is configured to discharge hot water toward the shoulders of the bather leaning against the backrest surface 2a.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 2, the negative electrode 4a and the positive electrode 4b are a pair of electrodes attached to the bathtub body 2 to detect the bather's electrocardiogram signal via the hot and cold water stored in the bathtub body 2. The bather's electrocardiogram signal is acquired as a signal representing the potential difference between the negative electrode 4a and the positive electrode 4b. The pair of electrodes consisting of the negative electrode 4a and the positive electrode 4b are both arranged on the backrest surface 2a, which forms the short side of the bathtub body 2. The reference electrode 4c is an electrode for acquiring a reference potential for the potential detected by the negative electrode 4a and the positive electrode 4b, and this electrode is also arranged on the backrest surface 2a of the bathtub body 2. The reference electrode 4c may be omitted.

[0025] The electrocardiogram signal detection device 6 is electrically connected to the negative electrode 4a, the positive electrode 4b, and the reference electrode 4c, and is configured to acquire the bather's electrocardiogram signal based on the potential difference between the positive electrode 4b and the negative electrode 4a. In this embodiment, the electrocardiogram signal detection device 6 is configured to detect the bather's heart rate based on the acquired electrocardiogram signal and display it on a display (not shown) of the remote control 6a. This allows the bather to check their own health condition and how warm their body is. The present invention can also be configured so that the information acquired by the electrocardiogram signal detection device 6 can be transmitted to an external wireless communication device (not shown), allowing the bather's condition to be monitored from outside the bathroom.

[0026] As shown in Figure 2, a jet nozzle 8a that sprays cleaning water for cleaning the bathtub is provided on the bottom of the bathtub main body 2. This jet nozzle 8a is configured to spray cleaning water to clean the inside of the bathtub when a lid (not shown) is placed on the bathtub main body 2 and no hot or cold water is stored therein. This jet nozzle 8a and a device (not shown) that sprays cleaning water from the jet nozzle 8a form a bathtub cleaning device 9a (Figure 3), which is an example of an electrical device provided in the bathtub main body 2.

[0027] Furthermore, multiple lighting LEDs 8b are provided on the sidewalls of the bathtub main body 2. These lighting LEDs 8b are lit according to the bather's preferences, creating a comfortable bathing experience and helping the bather relax. These lighting LEDs 8b and a device (not shown) that lights them up constitute the bathtub interior lighting device 9b (Figure 3), and are an example of electrical equipment provided in the bathtub main body 2.

[0028] The bathtub body 2 also has a built-in wireless power supply device 9c that supplies power to electrical devices used inside or near the bathtub body 2. This wireless power supply device 9c can, for example, supply power contactlessly to an ultraviolet LED (not shown) attached to the lid (not shown) of the bathtub body 2. By turning on this ultraviolet LED (not shown), ultraviolet light is emitted into the bathtub body 2, sterilizing bacteria on the wall surface of the bathtub body 2. This ultraviolet LED (not shown) and a device (not shown) that receives power from the wireless power supply device 9c and turns on the ultraviolet LED constitute a bathtub sterilizer 9d (FIG. 3), which is an example of an electrical device to which power is supplied via the bathtub body 2.

[0029] Furthermore, the present invention can be configured so that wireless power supply device 9c supplies power contactlessly to a smartphone (not shown) or tablet (not shown) used by the bather inside bathtub main body 2. By supplying power from wireless power supply device 9c, the bather can use the smartphone (not shown) or tablet (not shown) without worrying about the consumption of the built-in battery (not shown). These smartphones (not shown) and tablets (not shown) are mobile terminals 9e (FIG. 3) and are examples of electrical devices that receive power via bathtub main body 2.

[0030] Alternatively, the wireless power supply device 9c can supply power to a massager 9f (Fig. 3) used by bathers inside or near the bathtub main body 2. The wireless power supply device 9c can also supply power to a bath lift 9g (Fig. 3) that supports the body of elderly people and others so that they can easily enter the bathtub main body 2. By supplying power from the wireless power supply device 9c in this way, the massager 9f and bath lift 9g can be used without being charged in advance. The massager 9f and bath lift 9g are examples of electrical devices that receive power via the bathtub main body 2. Note that multiple wireless power supply devices 9c may be provided depending on the electrical devices to which power should be supplied.

[0031] Next, with reference to FIG. 3, a power supply system in the bathtub apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. As shown in Figure 3, the bathtub device 1 includes a power supply unit 10 that supplies power to the electrocardiogram signal detection device 6 and other electrical equipment, a power supply unit 12 that is connected to a commercial power source and supplies power to the power supply unit 10, a power supply control unit 14 that controls the power supply unit 12, and a signal transmission unit 16 that transmits signals to the power supply control unit 14 contactlessly via the power supply unit 10 and the power supply unit 12.

[0032] In this embodiment, the power supply unit 10 is configured to supply power for operating the electrocardiogram signal detection device 6, the bathtub cleaning device 9a, the bathtub lighting device 9b, and the wireless power supply device 9c. Specifically, the power supply unit 10 is electrically connected to the electrocardiogram signal detection device 6, the bathtub cleaning device 9a, the bathtub lighting device 9b, and the wireless power supply device 9c and is configured to supply power to these devices as needed. The power supply unit 10 is also electrically connected to the signal transmission unit 16 and is configured to supply power to the signal transmission unit 16 for operating the signal transmission unit 16. Meanwhile, the power supply unit 10 is not connected to a commercial power source and supplies power transmitted from the power supply unit 12 to the above-mentioned devices. The power supply unit 10 is also configured to transmit information from the signal transmission unit 16 to the power supply unit 12.

[0033] The signal transmitting unit 16 is configured to transmit signals to the power supply control unit 14 in a non-contact manner via the power supply unit 10. That is, the signal transmitting unit 16 is configured to transmit various signals to the power supply control unit 14 that are required for the power supply control unit 14 to control the power supply unit 12. As described above, power for operating the signal transmitting unit 16 is supplied from the electrically connected power supply unit 10, while signals to the power supply control unit 14 are transmitted wirelessly and non-contactly via the power supply unit 10.

[0034] The power supply unit 12 is connected to a commercial power supply 18 via an earth leakage breaker (ELB) 12a and is configured to transmit power to the power supply unit 10. An AC-DC conversion circuit 12b is connected between the earth leakage breaker 12a and the power supply unit 12, and the AC voltage supplied via the earth leakage breaker 12a is once converted to a DC voltage by the AC-DC conversion circuit 12b and supplied to the power supply unit 12. In this embodiment, the AC voltage is converted to DC 24V by the AC-DC conversion circuit 12b.

[0035] Furthermore, the power supply unit 12 is configured to transmit power to the power supply unit 10 using a first power supply system 11a that transmits power contactlessly and a second power supply system 11b that transmits power contactlessly. The power supply unit 12 is also configured to receive a signal from the signal transmission unit 16 contactlessly via the power supply unit 10.

[0036] In the first power supply system 11a, the power supply unit 12 and the power supply unit 10 are not physically connected, and are configured to transmit power to the power supply unit 10 in a non-contact manner. Therefore, even if the electrical components constituting the power supply unit 10 and the power supply unit 12 fail, the voltage (100V) of the commercial power source 18 connected to the power supply unit 12 will not be directly applied to the power supply unit 10 via the first power supply system.

[0037] Furthermore, in the second power supply system 11b, the power supply unit 12 is configured to supply power to the power supply unit 10 via an insulated DC-DC converter 22b (FIG. 5). Therefore, even if the electrical components constituting the power supply unit 10 and the power supply unit 12 fail, the possibility that the voltage (100V) of the commercial power supply 18 connected to the power supply unit 12 will be directly applied to the power supply unit 10 is almost zero. Therefore, although the electrocardiogram signal detection device 6, the signal transmission unit 16, the negative electrode 4a, the positive electrode 4b, the reference electrode 4c, etc. are electrically connected to the power supply unit 10, the voltage of the commercial power supply 18 will not be directly applied to these.

[0038] The power supply control unit 14 is connected to the power supply unit 12 and is configured to control the start and stop of power transmission from the power supply unit 12 to the power supply unit 10. Furthermore, the power supply control unit 14 controls whether to use the first power supply system 11a or the second power supply system 11b to transmit power from the power supply unit 12 to the power supply unit 10. That is, the signal transmission unit 16 transmits a control signal to the power supply control unit 14 via the power supply unit 10, and based on this control signal, the power transmission from the power supply unit 12 to the power supply unit 10 and the stop of power transmission, as well as the power supply system to be used, are controlled. In this embodiment, power for operating the power supply control unit 14 is supplied from the electrically connected power supply unit 12, while the control signal is transmitted from the signal transmission unit 16 to the power supply control unit 14 wirelessly and contactlessly via the power supply unit 10. As described above, in this embodiment, the left and right sides of the dashed-dotted line in the block diagram of FIG. 3 are electrically insulated from each other, and even if a component fails, the voltage of the commercial power source 18 is not directly applied to the area to the right of the dashed-dotted line.

[0039] Next, the configuration of the electrocardiogram signal detection device 6 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the electrocardiogram signal detection device 6. As shown in FIG.

[0040] The electrocardiogram signal detection device 6 is an electric circuit to which the negative electrode 4a, positive electrode 4b, and reference electrode 4c are connected, and is disposed on the rear side of the backrest surface 2a of the bathtub body 2. The signals acquired by the negative electrode 4a, positive electrode 4b, and reference electrode 4c are processed by the electrocardiogram signal detection device 6, and the processed results are displayed on a remote control 6a disposed in the bathroom R and / or a display device (not shown) disposed outside the bathroom R.

[0041] 4, the electrocardiogram signal detection device 6 includes a differential amplifier circuit 26, a filter circuit 28, an amplifier circuit 30, an A / D converter 32, and a heart rate conversion unit 34. As described above, power for operating these circuits is supplied from the power supply unit 10. The differential amplifier circuit 26 is an amplifier circuit to which the conductors 22 extending from the negative electrode 4a and the positive electrode 4b are connected, and is configured to amplify the differential voltage between the negative electrode 4a and the positive electrode 4b.

[0042] The filter circuit 28 is configured to receive the differential voltage amplified by the differential amplifier circuit 26, remove unnecessary frequency band components such as hum, and pass signal components in a required frequency band. The amplifier circuit 30 is configured to receive a signal from which unnecessary frequency band components such as hum have been removed by the filter circuit 28, and to amplify the input signal. A conductor (not shown) extending from the reference electrode 4c is connected to the differential amplifier circuit 26, the filter circuit 28, and the ground of the amplifier circuit 30.

[0043] The A / D converter 32 is configured to convert the analog signal amplified by the amplifier circuit 30 into a digital signal. The digital signal converted by the A / D converter 32 is sent to a heart rate conversion unit 34 of the signal transmission unit 16, which calculates the bather's heart rate and transmits the result to the remote control 6a or the like in a contactless manner. In this embodiment, the signal transmission unit 16 transmits the digital signal to the remote control 6a via wireless communication using Bluetooth (registered trademark).

[0044] The remote control 6a has built-in recording unit 36a, display unit 36b, etc. The signal sent from the electrocardiogram signal detection device 6 is recorded in recording unit 36a, and the bather's electrocardiogram waveform and heart rate are displayed as a graph on display unit 36b. The electrocardiogram waveform and the bather's heart rate can also be displayed on a display device (not shown) outside the bathroom R, allowing the bather's health condition to be monitored from outside the bathroom R.

[0045] Next, with reference to FIG. 5, power transmission between the power supply unit 12 and the power supply unit 10 through the first power supply system 11a and the second power supply system 11b will be described. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an example of power transmission between the power supply unit 12 and the power supply unit 10 via the first power supply system 11a and the second power supply system 11b.

[0046] First, in the bathtub apparatus 1 of this embodiment, power is transmitted from the power supply unit 12 to the power supply unit 10 via a first power supply system 11a that transmits power contactlessly and a second power supply system 11b that transmits power contact-wise, ensuring extremely high safety. As shown in Fig. 5, the power supply unit 12 incorporates a portion of each of the first power supply system 11a and the second power supply system 11b.

[0047] The power supply unit 12 includes a first power supply system 11a, which includes an inverter 20a, a power transmitting coil 20b, and a capacitor 20c. Meanwhile, the power supply unit 10 includes a power receiving coil 10a and a rectifier circuit 10b. Furthermore, a modulation field effect transistor (FET) 16a and a capacitor 16b are connected in parallel to both ends of the power receiving coil 10a. The modulation FET 16a and the capacitor 16b constitute a part of the signal transmitting unit 16.

[0048] In the first power supply system 11a of the power supply unit 12, DC power supplied from the AC-DC conversion circuit 12b (FIG. 3) is converted into a pulse wave of a predetermined frequency by the inverter 20a. The pulse wave generated by the inverter 20a has its DC component removed by the capacitor 20c, and is then applied to the power transmission coil 20b. When the pulse wave is applied, the power transmission coil 20b generates an alternating magnetic field that alternates at a predetermined frequency.

[0049] Meanwhile, the power receiving coil 10a provided in the power supply unit 10 is not in contact with the power transmitting coil 20b, but is arranged so that the magnetic flux of the alternating magnetic field generated by the power transmitting coil 20b intersects with it. When the alternating magnetic field intersects with the power receiving coil 10a, an electromotive force is generated in the power receiving coil 10a. The electromotive force generated in the power receiving coil 10a is rectified by the rectifier circuit 10b and converted to direct current. This converted direct current is supplied to the electrocardiogram signal detection device 6 and the like, activating them. As such, in this embodiment, the power supply unit 12 serves as the first power supply system 11a and transmits power to the power supply unit 10 in a contactless manner using electromagnetic induction. As a modified example, the present invention can also be configured so that power is transmitted in a contactless manner using any method, such as magnetic resonance, electric field coupling, radio wave, or optical transmission.

[0050] As described above, the modulation FET 16a and capacitor 16b are connected in parallel to the receiving coil 10a. The modulation FET 16a is turned on / off by a modulation signal applied to the gate terminal (the source terminal and drain terminal are brought into conduction or non-conduction). Therefore, the impedance between both terminals of the receiving coil 10a changes depending on whether the modulation FET 16a is on / off.

[0051] When the impedance of the power receiving coil 10a changes, the impedance of the power transmitting coil 20b magnetically coupled thereto also changes. Accordingly, the voltage between the terminals of the power transmitting coil 20b (the height of the pulse applied to the power transmitting coil 20b) also changes. Therefore, on / off information for the modulation FET 16a is transmitted to the power transmitting coil 20b in a contactless manner as a change in the voltage between the terminals of the power transmitting coil 20b. This information transmitted to the power transmitting coil 20b is acquired by the power supply control unit 14 (FIG. 3). Thus, in this embodiment, information is transmitted contactlessly from the signal transmitting unit 16 (the modulation FET 16a) to the power supply control unit 14 by backscatter modulation. Furthermore, in this embodiment, information is transmitted from the signal transmitting unit 16 to the power supply control unit 14 via the power receiving coil 10a and the power transmitting coil 20b. However, as a modified example, the present invention can also be configured so that a signal is transmitted contactlessly from the signal transmitting unit 16 to the power supply control unit 14 by any wireless communication.

[0052] Next, the power supply unit 12 includes a relay circuit 22a and an insulating DC-DC converter 22b as a second power supply system 11b. The relay circuit 22a is a mechanical contact relay that is turned on only when power transmission using the second power supply system 11b is performed and is turned off otherwise. Because the relay circuit 22a has mechanical contacts, there is a physical space between the contacts of the relay circuit 22a when it is turned off, ensuring extremely high insulation. Note that the current flowing through the coil for turning the relay circuit 22a on and off is supplied from the AC-DC conversion circuit 12b (FIG. 3) connected to the commercial power supply 18, but the coil of the relay circuit 22a also ensures high insulation between each contact. Note that in this embodiment, the second power supply system 11b equipped with the isolated DC-DC converter 22b can transmit greater power to the power supply unit 10 than the first power supply system 11a.

[0053] The isolated DC-DC converter 22b is configured to convert the DC voltage supplied via the relay circuit 22a into a predetermined DC voltage and output it. The output of the isolated DC-DC converter 22b is connected to the power supply unit 10. When the second power supply system 11b is used, the power supply unit 12 is configured to supply power to the power supply unit 10 via the isolated DC-DC converter 22b. Therefore, even if the electrical components constituting the power supply unit 10 and the power supply unit 12 fail, the voltage (100V) of the commercial power supply 18 connected to the power supply unit 12 is not directly applied to the power supply unit 10. Therefore, although the electrocardiogram signal detection device 6, the signal transmission unit 16, the negative electrode 4a, the positive electrode 4b, and the reference electrode 4c are electrically connected to the power supply unit 10, the voltage of the commercial power supply 18 is not directly applied to these electrodes because they are connected via the isolated DC-DC converter 22b.

[0054] Here, isolated DC-DC converter 22b is a DC-DC converter configured to step down an input DC voltage and output it as a DC voltage. That is, the DC voltage from AC-DC conversion circuit 12b (FIG. 3) is applied between the +Vdcin terminal and the 0Vdcin terminal of isolated DC-DC converter 22b. The stepped-down DC voltage is then output from the +Vdcout terminal and the 0Vdcout terminal of isolated DC-DC converter 22b. Also built into isolated DC-DC converter 22b are a drive circuit that converts the input DC voltage into a pulse wave, an isolation transformer to which the converted pulses are input, a rectifier circuit that converts the AC voltage generated on the secondary side of the isolation transformer into a DC voltage (all of which are not shown), and the like.

[0055] As described above, isolated DC-DC converter 22b has a built-in isolation transformer (not shown) whose primary and secondary sides are insulated, thereby isolating the input terminals (+Vdcin, 0Vdcin) and output terminals (+Vdcout, 0Vdcout) of isolated DC-DC converter 22b. This ensures the safety of users of bathtub equipment 1. Furthermore, when a control signal to stop voltage conversion is input to the Control terminal (not shown) of isolated DC-DC converter 22b, the drive circuit (not shown) that converts DC voltage into a pulse wave is stopped, and voltage output from the output terminal is stopped.

[0056] Next, with reference to FIG. 6, a signal waveform acquired by the electrocardiogram signal detection device 6 will be described. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a signal waveform acquired by the electrocardiogram signal detection device 6. As shown in FIG.

[0057] Fig. 6 shows an example of a voltage waveform acquired by the electrocardiogram signal detection device 6 when hot water is stored in the bathtub main body 2 up to a water level higher than the positions where the negative electrode 4a and positive electrode 4b are provided, and a bather is inside the bathtub main body 2. In this state, as shown in Fig. 6, the bather's electrocardiogram waveform is acquired by the electrocardiogram signal detection device 6 as a signal representing the potential difference between the negative electrode 4a and the positive electrode 4b via the hot water stored in the bathtub main body 2. In this embodiment, the bather's heart rate is detected based on this electrocardiogram waveform by the heart rate conversion unit 34 (Fig. 4) built into the signal transmission unit 16.

[0058] Next, the operation of the bathtub apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. First, when power is applied to the bathtub apparatus 1, power is transmitted from the power supply unit 12 to the power supply unit 10 via the first power supply system 11a. This starts the supply of power to the electrocardiogram signal detection device 6. When power supply to the electrocardiogram signal detection device 6 starts, the bather's electrocardiogram signal (Fig. 6) is detected as the potential difference between the negative electrode 4a and the positive electrode 4b. The heart rate conversion unit 34 (Fig. 4) calculates the bather's heart rate based on the electrocardiogram signal, and the signal transmission unit 16 transmits the calculated heart rate to the remote control 6a. This displays the bather's heart rate on the display unit 36b of the remote control 6a, allowing the bather to check their own health condition.

[0059] Next, the bather operates the remote control 6a to activate the bathtub lighting device 9b (Fig. 3), which lights up the LEDs 8b (Fig. 2) attached to the bathtub main body 2, creating a comfortable bathing experience for the bather. When the bathtub lighting device 9b is activated, the power supply unit 10 begins to supply power to the bathtub lighting device 9b. As a result, the total power supplied from the power supply unit 10 to each electrical device (in this example, the electrocardiogram signal detection device 6 and the bathtub lighting device 9b) increases. Information about the power supplied from the power supply unit 10 to each electrical device is transmitted from the power supply unit 10 to the power supply control unit 14 via the signal transmission unit 16.

[0060] Furthermore, when a bather starts using a massager (not shown) inside the bathtub main body 2, power begins to be supplied to the massager contactlessly from the wireless power supply device 9c provided in the bathtub main body 2. That is, in this embodiment, the wireless power supply device 9c is provided with a power transmitting coil (not shown), and power is supplied contactlessly from this power transmitting coil to a power receiving coil (not shown) built into the massager. Therefore, the bather can use the massager without having to consider the charge state of the massager.

[0061] Here, when power supply to the massager (not shown) begins, the total power supplied from the power supply unit 10 to each electrical device further increases. Information about the power supplied from the power supply unit 10 to each electrical device is transmitted from the power supply unit 10 to the power supply control unit 14 via the signal transmission unit 16. When the information indicating the increase in power supply is input, the power supply control unit 14 energizes the coil (FIG. 5) of the relay circuit 22a of the second power supply system 11b, turning on the relay circuit 22a. Furthermore, the power supply control unit 14 transmits a control signal to the isolated DC-DC converter 22b to activate it. As a result, power is supplied from the isolated DC-DC converter 22b to the power supply unit 10, and power transmission by the second power supply system 11b begins.

[0062] In this way, the power supply control unit 14 transmits power using the first power supply system 11a and the second power supply system 11b depending on the power usage status of the electrical equipment. In this embodiment, the power supply control unit 14 transmits power only through the first power supply system 11a when the power consumption of the electrical equipment is equal to or less than a predetermined value. Furthermore, when the power consumption of the electrical equipment exceeds the predetermined value, the power supply control unit 14 transmits power through the second power supply system 11b. Note that in this embodiment, when the power consumption exceeds the predetermined value, in addition to the power transmission through the first power supply system 11a, the power transmission through the second power supply system 11b is also performed. In contrast to this, as a modified example, the present invention can also be configured so that when the power consumption exceeds the predetermined value, power transmission is switched from the first power supply system 11a to the second power supply system 11b.

[0063] In the bathtub apparatus 1 of the first embodiment of the present invention, power is transmitted from the power supply unit 12 to the power supply unit 10 via the first power supply system 11a, which transmits power contactlessly, so that the power supply unit 10 is completely isolated from the commercial power source 18, ensuring extremely high safety for the bather. Furthermore, the power supply unit 12 can also transmit power to the power supply unit 10 via the second power supply system 11b, making it possible to accommodate cases where the power consumption of associated electrical devices is high.

[0064] Furthermore, according to the bathtub apparatus 1 of this embodiment, the power supply control unit 14 transmits power using the first power supply system 11a and / or the second power supply system 11b depending on the power usage status of one or more electrical devices, so that the power supply system can be selected depending on the power usage status, and appropriate power transmission can be performed.

[0065] Furthermore, with the bathtub apparatus 1 of this embodiment, when the power consumption of the electrical devices is equal to or less than a predetermined value, power is transmitted only through the first power supply system 11a, ensuring absolute safety when the power consumption is equal to or less than the predetermined value. Furthermore, when the power consumption of the electrical devices exceeds the predetermined value, power is transmitted through the second power supply system 11b, making it possible to cope with an increase in power consumption.

[0066] Furthermore, according to the bathtub apparatus 1 of this embodiment, the power transmitted by the second power supply system 11b is supplied to the power supply unit 10 via the isolated DC-DC converter 22b, so that sufficient safety for the bather can be ensured even when the second power supply system 11b that transmits power contact-wise is used.

[0067] Furthermore, according to the bathtub apparatus 1 of this embodiment, the electrical equipment attached to the bathtub apparatus 1 includes an electrocardiogram signal detection device 6 that detects the bather's electrocardiogram signal, a bathtub cleaning device 9a, a bathtub sterilization device 9d, an in-bathtub lighting device 9b, a mobile terminal 9e, a massager 9f, or a bath lift 9g, thereby providing sufficient comfort and convenience to bathers and users of the bathtub apparatus.

[0068] Next, a bathtub apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The bathtub apparatus of this embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the configuration of the second power supply system. Therefore, the following describes only the differences between the second embodiment and the first embodiment, and the same configurations, actions, and effects as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and will not be described again. Figure 7 is a schematic diagram showing an example of power transmission between the power supply unit 12 and the power supply unit 10 via the first power supply system 11a and the second power supply system 11b in the bathtub apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0069] First, in the bathtub apparatus of this embodiment, power is transmitted from the power supply unit 12 to the power supply unit 10 via a first power supply system 11a that transmits power contactlessly and a second power supply system 11b that transmits power in a contact manner that ensures extremely high safety. As shown in Fig. 7, the power supply unit 12 incorporates a portion of each of the first power supply system 11a and the second power supply system 11b.

[0070] The configuration and operation of the first power supply system 11a in this embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment described above, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted. Furthermore, the power supply unit 12 includes a relay circuit 40 and an isolation transformer 42 as a second power supply system 11b.

[0071] The relay circuit 40 is a mechanical contact relay that is turned on only when power transmission using the second power supply system 11b is performed and is turned off otherwise. The relay circuit 40 has mechanical contacts and can ensure extremely high insulation when turned off. An AC voltage is supplied to one contact of the relay circuit 40 from an earth leakage breaker 12a (FIG. 3). A current flowing through a coil for turning the relay circuit 40 on and off is supplied from an AC-DC conversion circuit 12b (FIG. 3) connected to a commercial power source 18. In this embodiment, the second power supply system 11b, which includes an isolation transformer 42, can transmit greater power to the power supply unit 10 than the first power supply system 11a.

[0072] The isolation transformer 42 has a primary winding 42a, a secondary winding 42b, a core 42c that transmits magnetic flux from the primary winding 42a to the secondary winding 42b by electromagnetic induction, and a contact prevention plate 42d provided between the primary winding 42a and the secondary winding 42b.

[0073] The primary winding 42a is a high-voltage coil connected to the power supply unit 12, and a high AC voltage is applied to it from the commercial power supply 18 via the earth leakage breaker 12a. The core 42c is an iron core that transmits an AC magnetic flux generated by application of the AC voltage to the primary winding 42a to the secondary winding 42b. The secondary winding 42b is a low-voltage coil connected to the power supply unit 10, and is configured to generate an AC electromotive force lower than the AC voltage applied to the primary winding 42a based on the magnetic flux transmitted by the core 42c. In the isolation transformer 42, the primary winding 42a and the secondary winding 42b are electrically insulated from each other, and no current flows directly from the primary winding 42a to the secondary winding 42b.

[0074] The contact prevention plate 42d is a metal plate disposed between the primary winding 42a and the secondary winding 42b. The contact prevention plate 42d is connected to the earth via a grounding wire. Preferably, the contact prevention plate 42d is grounded as a type D ground, and is connected to the earth so that the ground resistance is 100Ω or less. For example, the contact prevention plate 42d is connected to the earth so that the electrical resistance between the contact prevention plate 42d and a grounding wire (not shown) extending from a grounding electrode provided on a utility pole is 100Ω or less.

[0075] In this way, by providing contact prevention plate 42d on isolation transformer 42 and connecting it to earth, even if the insulation of primary winding 42a breaks down, the current supplied from commercial power supply 18 flows to earth, preventing high voltage from being generated in secondary winding 42b. This ensures the safety of users of bathtub equipment 1.

[0076] Additionally, the secondary winding 42b of the isolation transformer 42 is connected to an AC-DC conversion circuit 44 of the power supply unit 10. As a result, the AC voltage supplied from the isolation transformer 42 of the power supply unit 12 is converted into a DC voltage by the AC-DC conversion circuit 44 and used by each electrical device.

[0077] Next, the operation of the bathtub apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. First, when the bathtub equipment is powered on, power is transmitted from power supply unit 12 to power supply unit 10 via first power supply system 11a. This activates electrocardiogram signal detection device 6, and the bather's heart rate is displayed on display unit 36b of remote control 6a.

[0078] Next, when the bather activates other electrical appliances and the total power supplied from the power supply unit 10 exceeds the predetermined power, the power supply control unit 14 energizes the coil (FIG. 7) of the relay circuit 40 of the second power supply system 11b, turning on the relay circuit 40. This applies an AC voltage to the primary winding 42a of the isolation transformer 42, and a stepped-down AC voltage is generated in the secondary winding 42b. The AC voltage generated in the secondary winding 42b is supplied to the AC-DC conversion circuit 44 of the power supply unit 10 and converted to a DC voltage. In other words, the transmission of power by the second power supply system 11b via the isolation transformer 42 begins.

[0079] In this way, the power supply control unit 14 transmits power using the first power supply system 11a and the second power supply system 11b depending on the power usage status of the electrical equipment. In this embodiment as well, the power supply control unit 14 transmits power only through the first power supply system 11a when the power consumption of the electrical equipment is equal to or less than a predetermined value. Furthermore, when the power consumption of the electrical equipment exceeds the predetermined value, the power supply control unit 14 also transmits power through the second power supply system 11b. As a modified example, the present invention can also be configured so that when the power consumption exceeds the predetermined value, power transmission is switched from through the first power supply system 11a to through the second power supply system 11b.

[0080] According to the second embodiment of the bathtub device of the present invention, the power transmitted by the second power supply system 11b is supplied to the power supply unit 10 via an isolation transformer 42 equipped with a contact prevention plate 42d, so that sufficient safety for bathers can be ensured even when using a second power supply system that transmits power in a contact-type manner.

[0081] Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, various modifications can be made to the above-described embodiment. In particular, in the above-described embodiment, an electrocardiogram signal detection device was provided as the electrical device provided in the bathtub body, but the electrical device is not limited to this. One or more arbitrary electrical devices provided in the bathtub body or supplied with power via the bathtub body may be provided. [Explanation of symbols]

[0082] 1 Bathtub equipment 2 Bathtub body 2a Backrest 4a negative electrode 4b Positive electrode 4c reference electrode 6. Electrocardiogram signal detector 6a Remote control 7. Water discharge device 7a Spout 8a Injection nozzle 8b LED lighting 9a Bathtub cleaning device 9b Bathtub lighting device 9c Wireless Power Supply 9d Bathtub sterilizer 9e Mobile Device 9f Massager 9g Bus Lift 10 Power supply section 10a Receiving coil 10b rectifier circuit 11a First power supply system 11b Second power supply system 12 Power supply section 12a earth leakage breaker 12b AC-DC conversion circuit 14 Power supply control unit 16 Signal transmitter 16a Modulation FET 16b capacitor 18 Commercial power supply 20a inverter 20b Transmission coil 20c capacitor 22a relay circuit 22b Isolated DC-DC Converter 26 Differential amplifier circuit 28 Filter Circuit 30 Amplification circuit 32 A / D converters 34 Heart rate converter 36a Recording Section 36b Display section 40 Relay Circuit 42 Isolation transformer 42a Primary winding 42b Secondary winding 42c Core 42d Contact prevention plate 44 AC-DC conversion circuit

Claims

1. A bathtub device with accompanying electrical equipment, A bathtub body for storing hot water; One or more electrical devices provided in the bathtub body or supplied with power via the bathtub body; a power supply unit that supplies power to the one or more electrical devices; a power supply unit connected to a commercial power source and transmitting power to the power supply unit; and A bathtub apparatus characterized in that the power supply unit transmits power to the power supply unit using a first power supply system that transmits power contactlessly and a second power supply system that transmits power contact-wise.

2. The bathtub apparatus of claim 1 further comprises a power supply control unit that controls the transmission of power from the power supply unit to the power supply unit, and the power supply control unit transmits power using the first power supply system and / or the second power supply system depending on the power usage status of the one or more electrical devices.

3. The bathtub apparatus of claim 2, wherein the power supply control unit transmits power only through the first power supply system when the power consumption by the one or more electrical devices is below a predetermined value, and transmits power through the second power supply system when the power consumption by the one or more electrical devices exceeds the predetermined value.

4. 2. The bathtub apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power transmitted by the second power supply system is supplied to the power supply unit via an insulating transformer equipped with a contact prevention plate.

5. 2. The bathtub apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power transmitted by the second power supply system is supplied to the power supply unit via an isolated DC-DC converter.

6. 2. The bathtub apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electrical equipment includes an electrocardiogram signal detection device for detecting the bather's electrocardiogram signal, a bathtub cleaning device, a bathtub sterilization device, a bathtub lighting device, a mobile terminal, a massager, or a bath lift.

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