Bath function device and bath system

Abstract

To provide a bath function device and a bath system capable of suppressing the occurrence of abnormality such as swoon accompanying a decrease in blood pressure when a bather rises up from a bathtub.SOLUTION: A water heater 10 (a bath function device) includes: a bathroom remote controller 12 (a notification unit) installed in a bathroom; a bathing detection unit 111a for detecting the bathing in a bathtub; and a notification processing unit 123a. On the condition that the present body temperature of a bather increases by a predetermined temperature or more with respect to the initial body temperature of the bather when the bathing is detected by the bathing detection unit 111a and the current pulse rate due to a current pulse of the bather does not increase by a predetermined number or more with respect to the initial pulse rate of the bather when the bathing is detected by the bathing detection unit 111a, the notification processing unit 123a outputs the notification to the bathroom remote controller 12 (a notification unit) based on the blood pressure drop.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a bath function device that performs a specified bath function and a bath system that can communicate with a mobile terminal device via an external communication network. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, bath function devices that supply hot water from a water heater to a bathtub are known. In addition, bath function devices that circulate water stored in the bathtub to a burner to warm the water in the bathtub are also known. In these bath function devices, bath-related functions such as reheating and adding hot water are performed by multiple remote controllers installed in the bathroom or kitchen, for example. In addition to these bath-related functions, bath function devices can also be provided with functions to increase the safety of bathers.

[0003] For example, the following Patent Document 1 describes a biological information detection system that detects biological information such as respiratory information from a bather. In this system, a pair of electrodes is placed on the inner wall of the bathtub, and the biological information of the bather is detected based on the fluctuation of the impedance value between the electrodes. The bather's respiratory rate is detected as the biological information, and if an abnormality occurs in the breathing, the abnormality is notified from a speaker or a display device. In addition, the bather's heart rate is detected based on the peak of the impedance wave, and an abnormality in the bather's heart rate is detected based on the number of peaks counted within a predetermined time. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 5152954 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In addition to the above-mentioned breathing and heart rate abnormalities, one of the abnormalities that can occur in bathers is loss of consciousness due to heat stroke caused by staying in the bath for a long time. When the bather suddenly stands up from the bathtub while peripheral blood vessels expand due to the rise in body temperature caused by a long bath, blood pressure drops rapidly as the hydrostatic pressure provided by the water is suddenly released, and the bather may faint.

[0006] In view of such problems, the present invention aims to provide a bath function device and a bath system that can prevent abnormalities such as fainting caused by a drop in blood pressure when a bather stands up from the bathtub. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The first aspect of the present invention relates to a bath function device. The bath function device according to this aspect includes an alarm unit installed in a bathroom, a bathing detection unit that detects bathing in a bathtub, and an alarm processing unit that issues an alarm of an abnormality based on the detection result by the bathing detection unit, the bather's body temperature detected by the body temperature detection unit, and the bather's pulse rate detected by the pulse detection unit. The alarm processing unit outputs an alarm based on a drop in blood pressure to the alarm unit on the condition that the bather's current body temperature rises by a predetermined temperature or more compared to the bather's initial body temperature when bathing is detected by the bathing detection unit, and the current pulse rate based on the bather's current pulse rate does not rise by a predetermined number or more compared to the initial pulse rate based on the bather's pulse rate when bathing is detected by the bathing detection unit.

[0008] Bathing increases body temperature and expands peripheral blood vessels, causing a decrease in blood pressure. At this time, the human body regulates blood pressure by contracting the abdominal viscera and increasing pulse rate as a biological reaction to prevent the collapse of internal organs. That is, when body temperature increases by bathing, the increase in pulse rate suppresses the decrease in blood pressure caused by the expansion of peripheral blood vessels. In this way, there is a certain correlation between the increase in body temperature and the increase in pulse rate caused by bathing in terms of suppressing a decrease in blood pressure. Therefore, if the pulse rate does not increase to a level that satisfies the above correlation even though the body temperature has increased due to a long bath, it can be determined that the bather's blood pressure is likely to have dropped significantly. If the bather suddenly stands up from the bathtub when his blood pressure has dropped significantly, the hydrostatic pressure obtained by the water pressure is suddenly released, causing an even more rapid drop in blood pressure, and the bather may faint.

[0009] In contrast, according to the bath function device of the above embodiment, when the bather's body temperature rises by a predetermined temperature or more from the initial body temperature, if the bather's pulse rate does not rise by a predetermined number or more from the initial pulse rate, it is determined based on the above correlation that the bather's blood pressure may have dropped significantly, and a warning is given to the bather based on the drop in blood pressure. This prompts the bather to take care when leaving the bath. This makes it possible to prevent abnormalities such as fainting caused by a drop in blood pressure when the bather stands up from the bathtub.

[0010] In the bath function device of this aspect, the notification based on the drop in blood pressure may include a notification encouraging the bather to slowly rise from the bathtub.

[0011] This encourages the bather to slowly rise from the bathtub when leaving the bath, preventing a sudden drop in blood pressure when leaving the bath. This more reliably prevents the bather from experiencing abnormalities such as fainting due to a drop in blood pressure.

[0012] In the bath function device of this embodiment, the alarm processing unit may be configured to output a first alarm to the alarm unit on the condition that the current body temperature has risen by a predetermined temperature or more relative to the initial body temperature and that the current pulse rate has not risen by more than a first threshold pulse rate relative to the initial pulse rate but has risen by more than a second threshold pulse rate that is smaller than the first threshold pulse rate, and to output a second alarm different from the first alarm to the alarm unit on the condition that the current body temperature has risen by a predetermined temperature or more relative to the initial body temperature and that the current pulse rate has not risen by more than the second threshold pulse rate relative to the initial pulse rate.

[0013] According to this configuration, when the bather's body temperature rises by a predetermined temperature or more from the initial body temperature due to bathing, the notification to the bather is switched between the first notification and the second notification depending on the degree of increase in the bather's pulse rate, i.e., the degree of possibility of the bather's blood pressure dropping. That is, if the bather's blood pressure may have dropped to a level that requires caution when leaving the bath, the first notification is made, and if the bather's blood pressure may have dropped significantly to a level that requires significant caution when leaving the bath, the second notification is made. This allows the bather to understand the level of caution depending on the degree of the drop in blood pressure, and further increases the safety of the bather when leaving the bath.

[0014] In this configuration, the second notification may include a notification with a higher alert level when standing up from the bathtub, as compared to the first notification.

[0015] This allows the bather to understand the level of caution required when getting out of the bathtub, further increasing the bather's safety when leaving the bath.

[0016] In this configuration, the bath function device is provided with another alarm unit installed outside the bathroom, and the alarm processing unit may be configured to output a third alarm based on a drop in blood pressure to the other alarm unit when outputting the second alarm to the alarm unit.

[0017] According to this configuration, if there is a possibility that the bather's blood pressure has dropped significantly, the third notification is sent outside the bathroom, so that other people living in the kitchen or elsewhere can know from this notification that something may be wrong with the bather. This allows the other people to take appropriate action regarding the bather.

[0018] In this case, the third notification may include a notification urging a person outside the bathroom to assist the bather.

[0019] This allows people living outside the bathroom to smoothly and appropriately assist the bather if the bather's blood pressure actually drops significantly, further increasing the bather's safety.

[0020] In addition, in this configuration, the bath function device further includes a communication unit for communicating with a server capable of communicating with a mobile terminal device via an external communication network, and the alarm processing unit may be configured to, when outputting the second alarm to the alarm unit, send an abnormality notification to the server via the communication unit to notify the mobile terminal device of the possibility of an abnormality based on a drop in blood pressure.

[0021] This configuration allows the user of the mobile terminal device to know that the bather may have experienced an abnormality due to a drop in blood pressure, and can then take action such as calling a person living in the house to ask for assistance for the bather.

[0022] The bath function device according to this aspect may be configured to include at least one of the body temperature detection unit and the pulse detection unit. Alternatively, the body temperature detection unit and the pulse detection unit may be provided as a separate component from the bath function device.

[0023] A second aspect of the present invention relates to a bath system including a server capable of communicating with a mobile terminal device via an external communication network, and a bath function device capable of communicating with the server via the external communication network. The bath system according to this aspect includes an alarm unit installed in a bathroom, a bathing detection unit for detecting bathing in the bathtub, and an alarm processing unit for issuing an alarm of an abnormality based on the detection result by the bathing detection unit, the bather's body temperature detected by the body temperature detection unit, and the bather's pulse rate detected by the pulse detection unit. The alarm processing unit outputs an alarm based on a drop in blood pressure to the alarm unit on the condition that the bather's current body temperature rises by a predetermined temperature or more compared to the bather's initial body temperature when bathing is detected by the bathing detection unit, and the current pulse rate based on the bather's current pulse rate does not rise by a predetermined number or more compared to the initial pulse rate based on the bather's pulse rate when bathing is detected by the bathing detection unit.

[0024] According to the bath system of this aspect, the same effects as those of the first aspect described above can be achieved.

[0025] In the bath system of this embodiment, the alarm processing unit may be configured to output a first alarm to the alarm unit on the condition that the current body temperature has risen by a predetermined temperature or more relative to the initial body temperature and that the current pulse rate has not risen by more than a first threshold pulse rate relative to the initial pulse rate but has risen by more than a second threshold pulse rate that is smaller than the first threshold pulse rate, and to output a second alarm different from the first alarm to the alarm unit on the condition that the current body temperature has risen by a predetermined temperature or more relative to the initial body temperature and that the current pulse rate has not risen by more than the second threshold pulse rate relative to the initial pulse rate.

[0026] According to this configuration, as with the corresponding configuration of the first aspect, if the bather's blood pressure has dropped to the extent that caution is required when leaving the bath, a first notification is issued, and if the bather's blood pressure has dropped significantly to the extent that significant caution is required when leaving the bath, a second notification is issued. This allows the bather to understand the level of caution corresponding to the degree of the drop in blood pressure, and further increases the safety of the bather when leaving the bath.

[0027] In this configuration, the bath system includes another alarm unit installed outside the bathroom, and the alarm processing unit may be configured to output a third alarm based on a drop in blood pressure to the other alarm unit when outputting the second alarm to the alarm unit.

[0028] According to this configuration, similar to the corresponding configuration of the first aspect, if there is a possibility that the bather's blood pressure has dropped significantly, a person living with the bather in the kitchen or the like is notified of this fact, so that the person living with the bather can take appropriate measures for the bather.

[0029] In this case, the notification processing unit may be configured to, when outputting the second notification to the notification unit, send an abnormality notification to the mobile terminal device to notify of the possibility of an abnormality based on a drop in blood pressure.

[0030] This configuration allows the user of the mobile terminal device to know that the bather may have experienced an abnormality due to a drop in blood pressure, and can then take action such as calling a person living in the house to ask for assistance for the bather. Effect of the Invention

[0031] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a bath function device and bath system that can prevent the occurrence of abnormalities such as fainting due to a drop in blood pressure when a bather stands up from the bathtub.

[0032] The effects and significance of the present invention will become clearer from the following description of the embodiment. However, the embodiment described below is merely an example of how the present invention can be put into practice, and the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described below. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0033] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a hot water supply system according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 2]FIG. 2 is a diagram showing circuit blocks of each device constituting the hot water supply system according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic diagram of a connection between a water heater and a bathtub according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of pairing information according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a notification process performed in the bathroom remote control in the first embodiment. [Figure 6] Fig. 6(a) is a diagram showing the operations executed in the bathroom remote control by the notification process according to embodiment 1. Fig. 6(b) is a diagram showing the operations executed in the bathroom remote control by the exit bath recommendation process according to embodiment 1. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a notification process performed in the bathroom remote control according to the second embodiment. [Figure 8] 8(a) and (b) are diagrams showing operations executed in the bathroom remote control by the first notification process and the second notification process, respectively, according to the second embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a notification process performed in the bathroom remote control according to the third embodiment. [Figure 10] Fig. 10(a) is a flowchart showing the processing in the kitchen remote control when an abnormality notification is received according to embodiment 3. Fig. 10(b) is a flowchart showing the processing in the kitchen remote control when an abnormality notification is received according to a modified example of embodiment 3. Fig. 10(c) is a flowchart showing the processing in the server when an abnormality notification is received according to a modified example of embodiment 3. [Figure 11] Fig. 11(a) is a diagram showing an operation executed in the kitchen remote control by the third notification process according to embodiment 3. Fig. 11(b) is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a notification screen displayed on a mobile terminal device in the abnormality notification process according to a modified example of embodiment 3. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0034] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0035] In the following embodiment, hot water supply system 1 corresponds to the "bath system" and hot water supply device 10 corresponds to the "bath function device" in the claims. Hot water supply device 10 performs hot water supply functions for a kitchen faucet, a bathroom faucet, etc., in addition to bath-related functions. Remote controller 12 installed in the bathroom corresponds to the "alarm unit" and remote controller 13 installed in the kitchen or other place outside the bathroom corresponds to the "other alarm units" in the claims.

[0036] However, the above description is intended merely to match the configuration of the claims with the configuration of the embodiments, and the above correspondence does not in any way limit the invention described in the claims to the configuration of the embodiments.

[0037] <Embodiment 1> FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a hot water supply system 1 according to the first embodiment.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 1, hot water supply system 1 includes hot water supply device 10 and server 50, and is capable of communicating with mobile terminal device 30 via router 20 and external communication network 40.

[0039] Water heating device 10 includes water heater 11 and remote controllers 12 and 13. Water heater 11 is a gas water heater that uses gas as fuel to supply hot water. Hot water generated by water heater 11 is supplied to a kitchen faucet, a bathtub, a faucet, etc. through pipes connected to hot water outlet 11a. When water heater 11 has a floor heating function, a bathroom heating function, and a heating function using a panel heater, hot water is supplied from water heater 11 to devices that realize these functions.

[0040] Remote controllers 12 and 13 are connected to water heater 11 and are used to make various settings for each function of water heating apparatus 10. Remote controller 12 has a display unit 121 and an input unit 122, and remote controller 13 has a display input unit 131 consisting of a touch panel and an operation button 132. The operator can make any settings for filling the water tank, adjusting the hot water temperature, etc. by operating input unit 122 according to the screen displayed on display unit 121. The operator can also make settings for filling the water tank, etc. by operating display input unit 131.

[0041] Remote controller 12 is installed in bathroom BR1, and remote controller 13 is installed in a kitchen or the like outside bathroom BR1. Remote controllers 12 and 13 are provided with audio windows 12a and 13a for inputting and outputting audio.

[0042] Hereinafter, the remote controller 12 installed in the bathroom BR1 will be referred to as the "bathroom remote control 12," and the remote controller 13 installed in the kitchen or the like will be referred to as the "kitchen remote control 13."

[0043] An operation button 122a is included in the input section 122 of the bathroom remote control 12. The operation buttons 122a and 132 are buttons for switching the water heater 11 between an operation on state and an operation off state.

[0044] When bathroom remote control 12 and kitchen remote control 13 are in the operation off state, display unit 121 and display input unit 131 are in the off state, and no operation of operation buttons other than operation buttons 122a, 132 is accepted. When operation buttons 122a, 132 are operated to switch to the operation on state, display unit 121 and display input unit 131 light up, the setting contents are displayed, and operation of each operation button can be accepted.

[0045] Furthermore, input unit 122 and display input unit 131 include a button for changing the hot water supply temperature. The operator can change the set hot water supply temperature by operating this button. In addition, input unit 122 and display input unit 131 include buttons for controlling the operation of water heater 11, such as buttons for executing a reheating function, adding hot water, adding cold water, an automatic bath function, and the like.

[0046] The router 20 is a communication repeater for connecting each device present in a building (here, in a home) to an external communication network 40. When the mobile terminal device 30 is present in a home, the mobile terminal device 30 is connected to the router 20 by wireless communication and is capable of communicating with the server 50. The mobile terminal device 30 is, for example, a mobile phone. Alternatively, the mobile terminal device 30 may be another portable terminal device such as a portable tablet terminal. The external communication network 40 is, for example, the Internet.

[0047] A server 50 for managing remote control of water heating apparatus 10 is connected to external communication network 40. Kitchen remote control 13 communicates with server 50 via router 20 and external communication network 40. When mobile terminal device 30 is present inside the home, mobile terminal device 30 communicates with server 50 via router 20 and external communication network 40. When mobile terminal device 30 is outside the home, mobile terminal device 30 is connected to external communication network 40 via router 60 or base station 70 installed outside, and communicates with server 50.

[0048] An application program for hot water supply system 1 is downloaded from server 50 and installed in kitchen remote control 13 and mobile terminal device 30. This application program includes address information (e.g., IP address) for accessing server 50. Kitchen remote control 13 and mobile terminal device 30 access server 50 and communicate with each other based on this address information.

[0049] The address information of kitchen remote control 13 is transmitted to server 50 during initial configuration and registered in server 50. At the same time, ID information (identification information) of kitchen remote control 13 is transmitted from kitchen remote control 13 to server 50 and registered in server 50. In addition, mobile terminal device 30 capable of remotely controlling water heating apparatus 10 is associated with water heating apparatus 10 and registered in server 50. Specifically, the ID information of water heating apparatus 10 (kitchen remote control 13) and the ID information and address information of mobile terminal device 30 are associated with each other and registered in server 50.

[0050] In this way, by registering information about the mobile terminal device 30 in the server 50, the user of the mobile terminal device 30 can use the mobile terminal device 30 to remotely control the water heating apparatus 10 both inside and outside the home.

[0051] That is, whether mobile terminal device 30 is located inside or outside the home, a setting request input by the user to mobile terminal device 30 is first transmitted to server 50 via external communication network 40. In response, server 50 transmits the received setting request to water heating apparatus 10 that is pre-associated with mobile terminal device 30 that received the setting request. As a result, the setting request is transmitted to kitchen remote control 13 of the corresponding water heating apparatus 10 via external communication network 40 and router 20. In this way, the settings requested by the user are applied to water heating apparatus 10 by remote control.

[0052] Furthermore, status information of water heating apparatus 10 is transmitted from kitchen remote control 13 to server 50 via router 20 at predetermined intervals. The status information is information indicating the current setting and operating status of water heating apparatus 10. Mobile terminal device 30 can obtain and display the latest status information from server 50 using the application program of hot water supply system 1. This allows the user of mobile terminal device 30 to monitor the status of water heating apparatus 10 both inside and outside the home.

[0053] In this embodiment, a sensor unit 80 for detecting the body temperature and pulse of bather M1 is attached to the arm of bather M1 bathing in bathtub 2. Sensor unit 80 is a belt-shaped member that can be attached and detached to the arm of bather M1. Bather M1 enters bathroom BR1 with sensor unit 80 wrapped around his or her arm. Sensor unit 80 and bathroom remote control 12 are equipped with wireless communication functions for wirelessly communicating with each other.

[0054] Information regarding the body temperature and pulse rate of bather M1 detected by sensor unit 80 is transmitted from sensor unit 80 to bathroom remote control 12 at any time. As described below, bathroom remote control 12 determines whether or not there is a possibility that the blood pressure of bather M1 immersed in bathtub 2 has dropped significantly based on the information received from sensor unit 80. Then, if there is a possibility that the blood pressure of bather M1 has dropped significantly, bathroom remote control 12 issues a specified alert to bather M1.

[0055] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing circuit blocks of each device constituting the hot water supply system 1. As shown in FIG.

[0056] Water heater 11 includes a control unit 111, a storage unit 112, a communication unit 113, and a water level sensor 114. Control unit 111 includes a microcomputer, and controls each unit in water heater 11 according to a program stored in storage unit 112. Storage unit 112 includes a memory, and stores a predetermined control program.

[0057] In this embodiment, the function of the bathing detection unit 111a is imparted to the control unit 111 by a control program stored in the storage unit 112. The bathing detection unit 111a detects whether a person has entered or left the bathtub 2 based on the detection result of the water level sensor 114, as described below.

[0058] Communication unit 113 communicates with bathroom remote control 12 and kitchen remote control 13 according to control from control unit 111. Communication unit 113 is connected to communication unit 125 of bathroom remote control 12 and communication unit 135 of kitchen remote control 13 via two-core communication lines L1 and L2. In addition, two-core communication lines L1 and L2 are connected to each other inside communication unit 113. Therefore, communication unit 125 of bathroom remote control 12 and communication unit 135 of kitchen remote control 13 are connected to each other by two-core communication lines L1 and L2. Therefore, a signal transmitted from any of communication units 113, 125, 135 is simultaneously transmitted to the other communication unit.

[0059] Water level sensor 114, as described below, is disposed in a pipe in water heater 11, and detects the water level in the bathtub based on the water pressure in the pipe. Control unit 111 detects the water level in the bathtub based on the detection result of water level sensor 114. Control unit 111 also detects whether a person has entered or left the bathtub using the function of bathing detection unit 111a based on the fluctuation in the water level detected by water level sensor 114. The detection result of entering or leaving the bath is transmitted from control unit 111 to bathroom remote control 12 and kitchen remote control 13 as needed via two-core communication lines L1 and L2, and is further transmitted to server 50 via wireless communication unit 138.

[0060] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic diagram of a connection between the water heater 11 and the bathtub 2. As shown in FIG.

[0061] As shown in FIG. 3, water heater 11 includes a hot water supply section 210, a re-heating section 220, and a bypass section 230 in addition to the components shown in FIG.

[0062] The hot water supply section 210 includes a water supply pipe 211, a hot water supply heat exchanger 212, a hot water supply pipe 213, a hot water supply combustor 214, and an air supply fan 215. The water supply pipe 211 is connected to a water pipe and the hot water supply heat exchanger 212, and the hot water supply pipe 213 is connected to the hot water supply heat exchanger 212, the bathroom faucet 3, and the external faucet 4. Gas (fuel gas) is supplied to the hot water supply combustor 214 through a hot water supply gas pipe 217 that is opened and closed by a gas solenoid valve 216. The hot water supply combustor 214 burns gas as fuel. The air supply fan 215 supplies air for combustion to the hot water supply combustor 214.

[0063] 2, the reheating unit 220 includes a return pipe 221, a bath heat exchanger 222, an outgoing pipe 223, a bath burner 224, and a circulation pump 225. The return pipe 221 is connected to the circulation adapter 2a of the bathtub 2 and the bath heat exchanger 222, and the outgoing pipe 223 is connected to the bath heat exchanger 222 and the circulation adapter 2a.

[0064] Gas (fuel gas) is supplied to the bath combustor 224 through a bath gas pipe 227 that is opened and closed by a gas solenoid valve 226. The bath combustor 224 burns gas as fuel. An air supply fan 215 is shared between the hot water supply section 210 and the re-heating section 220, and air for combustion is supplied from the air supply fan 215 to the bath combustor 224. A circulation pump 225 and a water level sensor 114 are arranged in the return pipe 221. The water level sensor 114 detects the water level in the bathtub 2 based on the water pressure in the return pipe 221.

[0065] The bypass unit 230 includes a bypass pipe 231 and a hot water supply solenoid valve 232. The bypass pipe 231 is connected to the hot water supply pipe 213 and the return pipe 221. The hot water supply solenoid valve 232 opens and closes the bypass pipe 231.

[0066] The control unit 111 controls the hot water combustor 214, the air supply fan 215 and the gas solenoid valve 216 of the hot water supply unit 210, the bath combustor 224, the circulation pump 225, the water level sensor 114 and the gas solenoid valve 226 of the re-heating unit 220, the hot water solenoid valve 232 of the bypass unit 230, and the like.

[0067] When bathroom faucet 3 or external faucet 4 is opened, the hot water supply function is executed. Water from the water pipe is introduced into hot water heat exchanger 212 through water supply pipe 211, and hot water combustor 214 combusts, heating hot water heat exchanger 212. The water introduced into hot water heat exchanger 212 is heated to become hot water, and the hot water is supplied to bathroom faucet 3 or external faucet 4 through hot water pipe 213. When bathroom faucet 3 or external faucet 4 is closed, water supply from the water pipe to water supply pipe 211 stops, and combustion in hot water combustor 214 stops.

[0068] Furthermore, when a command to fill bathtub 2 with hot water is received from bathroom remote control 12 or kitchen remote control 13, control unit 111 executes the hot water filling function (automatic bath function). In this case, hot water solenoid valve 232 is opened, and water from the water pipe is introduced into hot water heat exchanger 212 through water supply pipe 211, and is heated in hot water heat exchanger 212. Then, the hot water from hot water heat exchanger 212 is introduced into return pipe 221 through hot water pipe 213 and bypass pipe 231.

[0069] A portion of the hot water introduced into the return pipe 221 flows through the return pipe 221 toward the circulation adapter 2a and is poured from the circulation adapter 2a into the bathtub 2. The rest of the hot water introduced into the return pipe 221 flows through the return pipe 221 toward the bath heat exchanger 222, and further flows through the bath heat exchanger 222 and the outgoing pipe 223 before being poured into the bathtub 2 from the circulation adapter 2a.

[0070] When hot water is supplied and filled in bathtub 2, return pipe 221, bath heat exchanger 222, and supply pipe 223 are filled with water. This allows water level sensor 114 to detect the water level in bathtub 2. When water level sensor 114 detects that the water level in bathtub 2 has reached a preset water level, hot water supply solenoid valve 232 is closed, water supply from the water pipe to water supply pipe 211 is stopped, and combustion in hot water supply combustor 214 is stopped.

[0071] When a person enters bathtub 2 filled with hot water, the water level in bathtub 2 rises. When a person leaves bathtub 2, the water level drops. The water level fluctuations based on people entering and exiting bathtub 2 can be detected by water level sensor 114. Thus, as described above, the function of bathing detection unit 111a detects people entering and leaving bathtub 2.

[0072] When the reheating function is performed, the circulation pump 225 operates and the bath combustor 224 starts combustion. The hot water in the bathtub 2 circulates between the bathtub 2 and a circulation path consisting of the return pipe 221, the bath heat exchanger 222, and the forward pipe 223, and is heated in the bath heat exchanger 222 during the circulation. When the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub 2 becomes higher than a preset upper limit temperature, the circulation pump 225 and the bath combustor 224 stop.

[0073] In the hot water addition function, a predetermined amount of hot water is injected into the bathtub 2 by the same control as the hot water filling function (automatic bath function). When the hot water addition function is executed, the hot water supply burner 214 and the bath burner 224 are stopped, and the same control as the hot water filling function (automatic bath function) is executed, and a predetermined amount of water is injected into the bathtub 2.

[0074] Returning to Fig. 2, bathroom remote control 12 includes, in addition to display unit 121 and input unit 122 described above, control unit 123, memory unit 124, communication unit 125, speaker 126, microphone 127, human presence sensor 128, and wireless communication unit 129. Display unit 121 is formed of, for example, a liquid crystal panel. Input unit 122 includes various operation buttons such as a temperature setting button. Display unit 121 may be a touch panel.

[0075] The control unit 123 includes a microcomputer and performs predetermined control in accordance with a program stored in the storage unit 124. The storage unit 124 includes a memory and stores the predetermined control program.

[0076] In this embodiment, the function of the notification processor 123a is imparted to the controller 123 by a control program stored in the memory 124. As described below, when the fluctuations in the body temperature and pulse rate of the bather M1 detected by the sensor unit 80 satisfy a predetermined condition, the notification processor 123a issues a predetermined notification to the bather M1 based on a drop in blood pressure.

[0077] Communication unit 125 communicates with water heater 11 and kitchen remote control 13 under the control of control unit 123. Speaker 126 outputs sound based on the sound signal generated by control unit 123. Control unit 123 reads out sound information stored in storage unit 124 as needed to generate the sound signal. The sound output from speaker 126 is output from sound window 12a in FIG. 1. Microphone 127 collects the sound via sound window 12a in FIG. 1.

[0078] Human sensor 128 detects human movement in the bathroom. Human sensor 128 is, for example, a pyroelectric sensor that uses infrared rays. The detection range of human sensor 128 is set to cover the washing area and bathtub 2 in the bathroom. Human sensor 128 may be capable of detecting the range of the washing area and the range of the bathtub separately. Control unit 123 transmits the detection result of human sensor 128 to water heater 11 and kitchen remote control 13 at regular intervals (for example, every second). The detection result of human sensor 128 is transmitted from kitchen remote control 13 to server 50 and used to determine whether a person has entered or left the bathroom.

[0079] Wireless communication unit 129 is a wireless communication module capable of wireless communication with sensor unit 80. Wireless communication unit 129 only needs to be capable of communication within a distance range approximately equal to the distance between bathtub 2 and bathroom remote control 12. While bather M1 is bathing in bathtub 2, as determined by bathing detection unit 111a of water heater 11, control unit 123 communicates with sensor unit 80 via wireless communication unit 129, and acquires information regarding the body temperature and pulse rate of bather M1 from sensor unit 80 at any time.

[0080] In addition to the above-mentioned display input unit 131 and operation button 132, kitchen remote control 13 includes control unit 133, memory unit 134, communication unit 135, speaker 136, microphone 137, and wireless communication unit 138.

[0081] Control unit 133 includes a microcomputer and performs predetermined control according to a program stored in storage unit 134. Storage unit 134 includes a memory and stores the predetermined control program. Communication unit 135 communicates with water heater 11 and bathroom remote control 12 according to the control of control unit 133.

[0082] The speaker 136 outputs a sound based on a sound signal generated by the control unit 133. The control unit 133 reads out sound information stored in the storage unit 134 as needed to generate a sound signal. The sound output from the speaker 136 is output from the sound window 13a in Fig. 1. The microphone 137 collects the sound via the sound window 13a in Fig. 1.

[0083] Wireless communication unit 138 is a wireless communication module capable of wireless communication with router 20. In server 50, address information and ID information of wireless communication unit 138 are registered as address information and ID information of kitchen remote control 13 (hot water heating apparatus 10).

[0084] The server 50 includes a control unit 501, a storage unit 502, and a communication unit 503. The control unit 501 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and performs predetermined control according to a program stored in the storage unit 502. The storage unit 502 includes a memory and a hard disk, and stores a predetermined control program and a database. The communication unit 503 performs predetermined control according to the control from the control unit 501.

[0085] 4 (pairing information). The pairing information is information that associates ID information of kitchen remote control 13 with ID information and address information of mobile terminal device 30. The pairing information is managed for each kitchen remote control 13 (hot water heating device 10).

[0086] The sensor unit 80 includes a control unit 801 , a body temperature detection unit 802 , a pulse detection unit 803 , and a wireless communication unit 804 .

[0087] The control unit 801 includes a microcomputer and performs predetermined control in accordance with a program stored in an internal memory.

[0088] The body temperature detection unit 802 includes a contact thermometer and detects the body temperature of the bather M1 by heat transmitted from the detection surface that is in contact with the skin of the bather M1. The pulse detection unit 803 includes a pulse wave sensor and detects the pulse of the bather M1 by, for example, changes in the intensity of reflected light when infrared light is irradiated onto the skin of the bather M1. The method of detecting the body temperature and pulse in the body temperature detection unit 802 and the pulse detection unit 803 is not limited to the above method, and any well-known method can be used as appropriate.

[0089] The wireless communication unit 804 is a wireless communication module capable of wireless communication with the bathroom remote control 12. In response to a transmission request from the bathroom remote control 12, the control unit 801 transmits the detection results of the body temperature detection unit 802 and the pulse rate detection unit 803 to the bathroom remote control 12 via the wireless communication unit 804 at any time.

[0090] Incidentally, when bather M1 is immersed in the hot water in bathtub 2 for a long time, the rise in body temperature causes peripheral blood vessels to expand and blood pressure to drop. At this time, the human body regulates blood pressure by contracting the abdominal viscera and increasing pulse rate as a biological reaction to prevent internal organs from collapsing. In other words, when body temperature rises due to bathing, the drop in blood pressure caused by the expansion of peripheral blood vessels is suppressed by the increase in pulse rate.

[0091] Thus, there is a certain correlation between the rise in body temperature and the increase in pulse rate due to bathing in terms of suppressing a drop in blood pressure. Therefore, if the pulse rate does not rise to a level that satisfies the above correlation even though the body temperature has risen due to a long bath, it can be determined that the bather's blood pressure is likely to have dropped significantly. If the bather suddenly stands up from the bathtub when his blood pressure has dropped significantly, the hydrostatic pressure obtained by the water pressure is suddenly released, causing an even more rapid drop in blood pressure, and the bather may faint.

[0092] Therefore, in this embodiment, when the bathing time reaches a predetermined time or more, that is, when the body temperature of the bather M1 has risen sufficiently by bathing, the pulse rate of the bather is monitored by the pulse detected by the sensor unit 80, and if the increase in the pulse rate is less than a predetermined amount, it is determined that the bather's blood pressure is likely to have dropped significantly, and a predetermined notification is given to the bather to warn him or her to be careful when leaving the bath. This process will be described below.

[0093] 5 is a flowchart showing the notification process performed in bathroom remote control 12. This process is performed by control unit 123 of bathroom remote control 12 using the function of notification processing unit 123a.

[0094] The control unit 123 determines whether or not the bather M1 has entered the bathtub 2 based on the detection result of the bathing detection unit 111a received from the water heater 11 at any time (S101). If it is determined that bathing has started (S101: YES), the control unit 123 stores the body temperature of the bather M1 detected by the sensor unit 80 at the start of bathing as an initial body temperature T0 in the memory unit 124, and further obtains the pulse rate from the pulse of the bather M1 detected by the sensor unit 80 at the start of bathing, and stores the obtained pulse rate in the memory unit 124 as an initial pulse rate B0 (S102).

[0095] Thereafter, the control unit 123 calculates the temperature difference ΔT between the current body temperature Tc of the person taking a bath M1, which is received from the sensor unit 80 at any time, and the initial body temperature T0, and determines whether the calculated temperature difference ΔT is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold temperature Tth (S103). Here, the threshold temperature Tth is set so as to be able to determine whether the body temperature of the person taking a bath M1 has risen sufficiently by bathing. For example, the threshold temperature Tth is set to about 0.3 to 0.5°C (e.g., 0.5°C).

[0096] If the temperature difference ΔT does not reach or exceed the threshold temperature Tth (S103: NO) and the bather detects that the bather has left the bathtub 2 (S107: YES) based on the detection result of the bathing detection unit 111a, the control unit 123 ends the process. On the other hand, if the temperature difference ΔT reaches or exceeds the threshold temperature Tth (S103: YES) before the bather has left the bath (S107: NO), the control unit 123 obtains the pulse rate of the current bather M1 from the sensor unit 80 and calculates the current pulse rate Bc. The control unit 123 then calculates the pulse rate difference ΔB between the pulse rate Bc of the current bather M1 and the initial pulse rate B0, and determines whether the calculated pulse rate difference ΔB is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold pulse rate Bth (S104).

[0097] Here, the threshold pulse rate Bth is set so that it is possible to determine whether the pulse rate has risen to a level that satisfies the above correlation when the body temperature of the person M1 has risen sufficiently due to a long bath, as described above. For example, the threshold pulse rate Bth is set to about 10 bpm or 10% of the initial pulse rate B0.

[0098] If the pulse rate difference ΔB is not greater than or equal to the threshold pulse rate Bth (S104: NO), that is, if the pulse rate has not increased to a level that satisfies the above correlation even though the body temperature has risen sufficiently due to long bathing, the control unit 123 determines that there is a high possibility that the bather's blood pressure has dropped significantly, and executes an alarm process to alert the bather M1 regarding the drop in blood pressure (S105).

[0099] On the other hand, if the pulse rate difference ΔB is greater than or equal to the threshold pulse rate Bth (S104: YES), that is, if the body temperature has risen sufficiently due to prolonged bathing and the pulse rate has risen to a level that satisfies the above correlation, the control unit 123 determines that the bather's blood pressure has not dropped significantly but that the body temperature has risen sufficiently due to prolonged bathing, and executes an exit recommendation process to encourage bather M1 to exit the bath (S106).

[0100] Fig. 6(a) is a diagram showing the operation executed by the notification process in step S105 in Fig. 5. Fig. 6(b) is a diagram showing the operation executed by the exit bath recommendation process in step S106 in Fig. 5.

[0101] As shown in Fig. 6(a), in the notification process, the control unit 123 outputs an audio message from the speaker 126 urging the bather M1 to carefully and slowly get out of the bathtub 2. This audio message urges the bather M1 to carefully stand up slowly when leaving the bath. This prevents the bather M1 from fainting when the hydrostatic pressure obtained by the water pressure is suddenly released when leaving the bath, causing an even more rapid drop in blood pressure, even if the bather M1's blood pressure has actually dropped.

[0102] As shown in Fig. 6(b), in the process of recommending to leave the bath, the control unit 123 outputs an audio message from the speaker 126 urging the bather M1 to leave the bathtub 2. This audio message lets the bather M1 know that his / her body temperature has risen sufficiently due to the long bathing time, and that it is about time to leave the bath. This prevents the bather from getting too hot, etc.

[0103] In this example, a predetermined audio message is output from speaker 126 in the notification process and the exit advice process, but the method of notifying bather M1 is not limited to this. For example, a message text may be displayed on display unit 121 together with the audio message, or a chime sound may be included at the beginning of the audio message to call attention.

[0104] In addition, the contents of the voice message output in the notification process are not limited to those shown in Fig. 6(a) and can be changed as appropriate. For example, the voice message may include contents indicating that there is a possibility of a significant drop in blood pressure, or that there is a risk of fainting if the user stands up too quickly, etc.

[0105] <Effects of the First Embodiment> According to the above-mentioned embodiment 1, the following effects can be achieved.

[0106] As shown in Fig. 5, when the current body temperature Tc of the person taking a bath M1 rises from the initial body temperature T0 by a predetermined threshold temperature Tth or more (S103: YES), but the current pulse rate Bc of the person taking a bath M1 does not rise from the initial pulse rate B0 by a predetermined threshold pulse rate Bth or more (S104: NO), it is determined that the blood pressure of the person taking a bath M1 may have dropped significantly, and a warning based on the drop in blood pressure is given to the person taking a bath M1 (S105). This prompts the person taking a bath M1 to take care when leaving the bath. This makes it possible to prevent abnormalities such as fainting caused by a drop in blood pressure when the person taking a bath M1 stands up from the bathtub 2.

[0107] As shown in Fig. 6(a), the notification based on the drop in blood pressure includes a notification encouraging the bather M1 to slowly stand up from the bathtub 2. This encourages the bather M1 to slowly stand up from the bathtub 2 when leaving the bath, preventing a sudden drop in blood pressure when leaving the bath. This more reliably prevents the bather M1 from experiencing abnormalities such as fainting due to a drop in blood pressure.

[0108] <Embodiment 2> In the above embodiment 1, there was only one threshold value for determining an increase in pulse rate, the threshold pulse rate Bth, but multiple threshold values ​​for determining an increase in pulse rate may be set to more precisely determine the degree of possibility of a drop in blood pressure.

[0109] 7 is a flowchart showing the notification process performed by bathroom remote control 12 according to embodiment 2. As in embodiment 1, this process is performed by control unit 123 of bathroom remote control 12 using the function of notification processing unit 123a.

[0110] As shown in Fig. 7, in the second embodiment, steps S104 and S105 in Fig. 5 are replaced with steps S111 to S114. That is, in the second embodiment, a first threshold pulse rate Bth1 (S113) and a second threshold pulse rate Bth2 (S111) are set as thresholds for determining an increase in the pulse rate, and a first notification process (S114) and a second notification process (S112) are executed as notification processes. The processes in the other steps are similar to the processes in the corresponding steps in Fig. 5.

[0111] Here, the first threshold pulse rate Bth1 is set to 10 bpm or about 10% of the initial pulse rate B0, as in step S104 of the above-mentioned embodiment 1. The second threshold pulse rate Bth2 is set to be smaller than the first threshold pulse rate Bth1, for example, to 3 bpm or about 3% of the initial pulse rate B0. The second threshold pulse rate Bth2 is set so as to be able to determine the possibility that the blood pressure of the bather M1 has decreased more significantly.

[0112] If the temperature difference ΔT becomes equal to or greater than the threshold temperature Tth (S103: YES) before the bather M1 has left the bath (S107: NO), the control unit 123 determines whether the pulse rate difference ΔB between the current bather M1's pulse rate Bc and the initial pulse rate B0 is equal to or greater than the second threshold pulse rate Bth2 (S111). If the pulse rate difference ΔB is not equal to or greater than the second threshold pulse rate Bth2 (S111: NO), that is, if the control unit 123 determines that the bather's pulse rate has not increased substantially despite the bather's body temperature having risen sufficiently due to a long period of bathing, and that the bather's blood pressure is likely to have dropped significantly, the control unit 123 executes a second notification process to give the bather M1 a stronger warning based on the drop in blood pressure (S112).

[0113] On the other hand, if the pulse rate difference ΔB is equal to or greater than the second threshold pulse rate Bth2 (S111: YES), the control unit 123 further judges whether the pulse rate difference ΔB is equal to or greater than the first threshold pulse rate Bth1, which is greater than the second threshold pulse rate Bth2 (S113). If the pulse rate difference ΔB is not equal to or greater than the first threshold pulse rate Bth1 (S113: NO), that is, if the bather's pulse rate does not increase to a level that satisfies the correlation despite the body temperature being sufficiently increased by bathing for a long time, and it is judged that the bather's blood pressure is likely to have dropped significantly, the control unit 123 executes a first notification process to alert the bather M1 based on the drop in blood pressure (S114).

[0114] Furthermore, when the pulse rate difference ΔB is equal to or greater than the first threshold pulse rate Bth1 (S113: YES), the control unit 123 executes the same exit bathing recommendation process as in the first embodiment (S106). In this manner, the control unit 123 ends the process of FIG.

[0115] 8(a) and 8(b) are diagrams showing operations executed in the first notification process and the second notification process in steps S114 and S112 of FIG. 7, respectively.

[0116] As shown in Fig. 8(a), the operation performed by the first notification process is the same as the notification process shown in Fig. 6(a). In the first notification process, a voice message is output from the speaker 126 to urge the bather M1 to get out of the bathtub 2 carefully and slowly.

[0117] As shown in Fig. 8(b), in the second notification process, the voice message includes a message encouraging the bather M1 to slowly get out of the bathtub 2, as well as a message informing the bather that it is dangerous to suddenly stand up from the bathtub 2. This motivates the bather M1 to be more careful when exiting the bathtub 2. Therefore, in the case where the bather M1 is actually experiencing a significant drop in blood pressure, it is possible to more reliably prevent the bather M1 from fainting when exiting the bath.

[0118] As in the first embodiment, in the first and second notification processes, a message text may be displayed on the display unit 121 together with the voice message, and a chime sound may be included at the beginning of the voice message to call attention. The contents of the voice message to be output are not limited to those shown in Fig. 8(a) and Fig. 8(b), and may include, for example, information indicating that there is a possibility of a significant drop in blood pressure, or that there is a risk of fainting if the user stands up too quickly, etc.

[0119] <Effects of the second embodiment> In the second embodiment, the same effects as in the first embodiment can be achieved.

[0120] In addition, in the second embodiment, as shown in Fig. 7, when the current body temperature Tc of the bather M1 rises from the initial body temperature T0 by a predetermined threshold temperature Tth or more due to bathing, the notification to the bather is switched between the first notification (S114) and the second notification (S112) depending on the degree of increase in the pulse rate of the bather M1 (S111, S113), that is, the degree of possibility of the bather's blood pressure decreasing. That is, if the bather's blood pressure may have decreased to a degree that requires caution when leaving the bath (S113: YES), the first notification (S114) is made, and if the bather's blood pressure may have decreased significantly to a degree that requires greater caution when leaving the bath (S111: YES), the second notification (S112) is made. This allows the bather M1 to understand the level of caution corresponding to the degree of blood pressure decrease, and the safety of the bather M1 when leaving the bath can be further improved.

[0121] 8(a) and (b), the notification in the second notification process includes notification content with a higher alert level when standing up from the bathtub 2 compared to the notification in the first notification process. This allows the bather M1 to understand the alert level when standing up from the bathtub 2, and further increases the safety of the bather M1 when leaving the bath.

[0122] <Embodiment 3> In the above embodiments 1 and 2, when there is a possibility that bather M1 will experience a significant drop in blood pressure, an alert based on the drop in blood pressure is only given in the bathroom BR1, but in embodiment 3, an alert based on the drop in blood pressure is also given outside the bathroom BR1.

[0123] 9 is a flowchart showing the notification process performed by bathroom remote control 12 according to embodiment 3. As in embodiments 1 and 2 above, this process is performed by control unit 123 of bathroom remote control 12 using the function of notification processing unit 123a.

[0124] The flowchart in Fig. 9 includes step S115 in addition to the flowchart in Fig. 7. The processes in the other steps in Fig. 9 are similar to the processes in the corresponding steps in Fig. 7.

[0125] When executing the second notification process (S112), the control unit 123 further transmits an abnormality notification to the kitchen remote control 13 (S115).

[0126] FIG. 10(a) is a flowchart showing the process in the kitchen remote control when an abnormality notification is received.

[0127] When the control unit 133 of the kitchen remote control 13 receives an abnormality notification from the bathroom remote control 12 (S201: YES), it executes a third notification process (S202). In the third notification process, the control unit 133 outputs an audio message based on the drop in the blood pressure of the bather M1 from the speaker 136, as shown in Fig. 11(a), and further displays a message text based on the drop in the blood pressure of the bather M1 on the display input unit 131.

[0128] As shown in Fig. 11(a), the voice message and text message output in the third notification process include notification content indicating the possibility of danger to bather M1, as well as notification content urging people outside the bathroom to assist the bather. This notification allows people living with the bather in the kitchen or elsewhere to know that something may be wrong with the bather, and to provide assistance to the bather smoothly and appropriately. This further increases the safety of the bather.

[0129] The notification method in the third notification process is not limited to the method shown in Fig. 11(a) and may be changed as appropriate. For example, either the message voice or the message text may be omitted, or a chime sound may be included at the beginning of the message voice to call attention.

[0130] Furthermore, the contents of the outputted message voice and message text are not limited to those shown in Figure 11(a). For example, the message voice may include information indicating that there is a possibility of a significant drop in blood pressure, or the message voice and message text may include information indicating that the bather is at risk of fainting when exiting the bath.

[0131] <Effects of the Third Embodiment> 10(a) and 11(a), when there is a possibility that the blood pressure of bather M1 has dropped significantly, a notification is issued by the third notification process outside the bathroom BR1. This allows other people living in the kitchen or elsewhere to know that something may be wrong with bather M1 and to take appropriate action for the bather.

[0132] 11(a), the notification by the third notification process includes a notification to encourage people outside the bathroom BR1 to assist the bather M1. This allows people living outside the bathroom BR1 to smoothly and appropriately assist the bather M1 when the bather's blood pressure has dropped significantly. This further improves the safety of the bather.

[0133] <Modification of the third embodiment> In the above embodiment 3, a process (third notification process) was performed in the kitchen remote control 13 installed outside the bathroom BR1 to notify the bather M1 of the possibility that an abnormality due to a drop in blood pressure has occurred, but a similar notification may also be performed in the mobile terminal device 30.

[0134] 10(b) is a flowchart showing the processing in this case in kitchen remote control 13. Control unit 133 of kitchen remote control 13 executes a third notification process (S202), and also transmits the abnormality notification received from bathroom remote control 12 (S201) to server 50 (S203).

[0135] 10(c), when the control unit 501 of the server 50 receives an abnormality notification from the kitchen remote control 13 (S301: YES), the control unit 501 transmits the abnormality notification to the mobile terminal device 30 associated with the kitchen remote control 13 that transmitted the abnormality notification in the pairing information by a predetermined transmission method using a push notification or the like (S302). As a result, the mobile terminal device 30 executes an abnormality reporting process based on the abnormality notification.

[0136] FIG. 11B is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a notification screen 900 displayed on the mobile terminal device 30 in the abnormality notification process.

[0137] The notification screen 900 is displayed as a pop-up on the display unit of the mobile terminal device 30. The notification screen 900 includes a message text 901 similar to that in Fig. 11(a) and a button 902. The user of the mobile terminal device 30 refers to the message text 901, understands that something may be wrong with the bather at home, and then operates the button 902. This causes the notification screen 900 to disappear.

[0138] 11A, the contents of the message 901 may be changed as appropriate. Together with the message 901, a voice message, a chime sound, a vibration, or the like may be output.

[0139] <Effects of the modified example of the third embodiment> As shown in FIG. 10(b), the abnormality notification sent in step S115 of FIG. 9 is sent from the kitchen remote control 13 to the server 50 (S203), and further, as shown in FIG. 10(c), the abnormality notification is sent from the server 50 to the mobile terminal device 30 (S302). As a result, the mobile terminal device 30 performs an abnormality notification process, and displays a notification screen 900 as shown in FIG. 11(b). This allows the user of the mobile terminal device 30 to understand that bather M1 may have experienced an abnormality due to a drop in blood pressure. Therefore, the user can take action such as calling a cohabitant in the house to request assistance for the resident, thereby further improving the safety of bather M1.

[0140] <Other changes> In the above embodiments 1 to 3, the body temperature and pulse of the bather M1 are detected by attaching the sensor unit 80 to the bather M1, but the method of detecting the body temperature and pulse of the bather M1 is not limited to this.

[0141] For example, as shown in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, a pair of electrodes may be arranged on the inner wall of the bathtub 2, and the pulse of the bather M1 may be detected based on the variation in the impedance value between the electrodes. Also, since hemoglobin contained in blood easily absorbs light in the green wavelength band, a color image of the bather's face may be acquired by a camera, and the pulse of the bather may be detected from the intensity change in the green face image acquired by the green pixels. Also, the position of the bather's face may be identified from the camera image, and the temperature at the identified face position may be detected with infrared rays, thereby detecting the body temperature of the bather.

[0142] In addition, in the above embodiments 1 to 3, the range of the threshold temperature Tth is exemplified as 0.3 to 0.5°C, but the threshold temperature Tth is not limited to this and may be another temperature at which it is possible to determine whether the body has been sufficiently warmed by bathing. Similarly, the threshold pulse rate Bth, the first threshold pulse rate Bth1, and the second threshold pulse rate Bth2 are not limited to the values ​​shown in the above embodiments 1 to 3, and may be set to another value at which it is possible to determine whether the blood pressure of the bather M1 has dropped significantly.

[0143] Furthermore, in the above embodiments 1 to 3, the water heating apparatus 10 could be remotely controlled by the server 50 and the mobile terminal device 30. However, the processes in Figures 5, 7, 9 and 10(a) in embodiments 1 to 3 are each completed within the water heating apparatus 10, and therefore these processes can be similarly applied to a water heating apparatus 10 that cannot be remotely controlled.

[0144] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 11(a), when the third notification process requests assistance from a roommate outside the bathroom BR1, the second notification process in Figure 8(b) may include a notification urging the bather M1 to remain in the bathtub 2 and wait for assistance from a roommate.

[0145] In the process of Fig. 9, an abnormality notification (S115) is sent to kitchen remote control 13 when the second notification process (S112) is performed, but an abnormality notification may also be sent to kitchen remote control 13 when the first notification process (S114) is performed. In this case, kitchen remote control 13 and mobile terminal device 30 may switch the content of the notification depending on which abnormality notification is received. In this case, too, it is preferable that the content of the notification be changed so that the alert level differs depending on the level of blood pressure drop that may have occurred in bather M1.

[0146] Also, in the above embodiment 1, when the notification process (S105) of Figure 5 is performed, an abnormality notification may be sent to kitchen remote control 13, and processing for notifying the abnormality may be performed in kitchen remote control 13 and mobile terminal device 30.

[0147] In addition, in the above embodiments 1 to 3, the bathing detection unit is arranged in the water heater 11 and the notification processing unit is arranged in the bathroom remote control, but the arrangement of the bathing detection unit and the notification processing unit is not limited to this. For example, the bathing detection unit may be arranged in the bathroom remote control 12 together with the notification processing unit. In this case, the bathing detection unit may detect bathing in and out of the bathtub 2 based on the detection value of the water level sensor 114 input from the water heater 11 at any time. The bathing detection unit and the notification processing unit may be arranged in any of the devices constituting the water heating apparatus 10.

[0148] Moreover, the bathing detection section and the notification processing section do not necessarily have to be realized as functions based on a program as in the above-mentioned embodiments 1 to 3, and may be realized by hardware based on a logic circuit.

[0149] In the above first to third embodiments, whether or not someone is taking a bath is detected based on the output of the water level sensor 114, but the method of detecting whether or not someone is taking a bath is not limited to this. For example, an illuminance sensor may be placed in the backrest, and whether or not someone is taking a bath may be detected based on a decrease in the illuminance detected by the illuminance sensor. Also, whether or not someone is taking a bath may be detected based on the detection result of the human presence sensor 128.

[0150] In addition, in the above embodiments 1 to 3, wireless communication unit 138 is provided in kitchen remote control 13 constituting water heating apparatus 10, but a wireless communication unit may be provided in water heater 11 and water heater 11 may be connected to router 20. Alternatively, a control unit equipped with a wireless communication unit may be arranged in water heating apparatus 10 in addition to water heater 11, bathroom remote control 12, and kitchen remote control 13, and this control unit may be connected to router 20.

[0151] Furthermore, the configuration of water heater 11 is not limited to the configuration shown in Fig. 3, and other configurations are also possible. For example, in the configuration of Fig. 3, the hot water in bathtub 2 is reheated by circulating the hot water in bathtub 2 through bath heat exchanger 222, but the reheating function may be performed by water heater 11 adding high-temperature hot water to the bathtub.

[0152] The terminal device that remotely controls water heating apparatus 10 may include a stationary terminal device that is not portable and is installed at a predetermined location. Water heating apparatus 10 is not limited to a water heating apparatus that uses gas fuel, and may be a water heating apparatus that uses oil as fuel. Water heating apparatus 10 may be of a storage type that uses a storage tank, and may further include a power generation unit such as a fuel cell.

[0153] In the above embodiment, the water heater 10 equipped with a hot water supply function as well as a bath-related function was exemplified as a bath function device that performs a predetermined bath function for the bathtub, but the bath function device may be a device that can perform only bath-related functions. For example, the bath system may be configured to include a bath function device that has only the function of circulating water stored in the bathtub 2 through a heat exchanger to heat it. In this case, the bath function device only needs to have a configuration for heating the bath and a configuration for communicating with the server of the bath system.

[0154] In addition, the embodiments of the present invention can be modified in various ways as appropriate within the scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0155] 1. Hot water system (bath system) 10 Hot water supply equipment (bath function equipment) 12 Bathroom remote control (alarm section) 13 Kitchen remote control (other alarm unit) 30 Portable terminal device 40 External communication network 50 Servers 111a Bathing detection unit 123a Notification processing unit 802 Body temperature detection unit 803 Pulse detector BR1 Bathroom

Claims

1. A notification unit installed in the bathroom; A bathing detection unit that detects bathing in the bathtub; a notification processing unit that notifies an abnormality based on the detection result by the bathing detection unit, the body temperature of the bather detected by the body temperature detection unit, and the pulse rate of the bather detected by the pulse detection unit; The notification processing unit outputs a notification based on a drop in blood pressure to the notification unit on condition that the bather's current body temperature has risen by a predetermined temperature or more with respect to the bather's initial body temperature when bathing is detected by the bathing detection unit, and the current pulse rate of the bather's current pulse has not risen by a predetermined number or more with respect to the initial pulse rate of the bather's pulse when bathing is detected by the bathing detection unit. A bath function device characterized by the above.

2. The bath function device according to claim 1, The notification based on the blood pressure drop includes a notification encouraging the bather to slowly stand up from the bathtub. A bath function device characterized by the above.

3. The bath function device according to claim 1 or 2, The notification processing unit is outputting a first notification to the notification unit under the condition that the current body temperature is increased by a predetermined temperature or more relative to the initial body temperature, and the current pulse rate is not increased by a first threshold pulse rate or more relative to the initial pulse rate, but is increased by a second threshold pulse rate or more that is smaller than the first threshold pulse rate; outputting a second notification different from the first notification from the notification unit on the condition that the current body temperature is increased by a predetermined temperature or more with respect to the initial body temperature and the current pulse rate is not increased by the second threshold pulse rate or more with respect to the initial pulse rate; A bath function device characterized by the above.

4. The bath function device according to claim 3, The second notification includes a notification having a higher alert level when standing up from the bathtub compared to the first notification. A bath function device characterized by the above.

5. The bath function device according to claim 3 or 4, Another notification unit is provided outside the bathroom, The notification processing unit outputs a third notification based on a blood pressure decrease to the other notification unit when outputting the second notification to the notification unit. A bath function device characterized by the above.

6. The bath function device according to claim 5, The third notification includes a notification to prompt a person outside the bathroom to assist the bather. A bath function device characterized by the above.

7. In the bath function device according to any one of claims 3 to 6, a communication unit for communicating with a server capable of communicating with the mobile terminal device via an external communication network, When the notification processing unit outputs the second notification to the notification unit, the notification processing unit transmits an abnormality notification for notifying the mobile terminal device of a possibility of an abnormality due to a drop in blood pressure to the server via the communication unit. A bath function device characterized by the above.

8. In the bath function device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, At least one of the body temperature detection unit and the pulse detection unit is provided. A bath function device characterized by the above.

9. A bath system including a server capable of communicating with a mobile terminal device via an external communication network, and a bath function device capable of communicating with the server via the external communication network, A notification unit installed in the bathroom; A bathing detection unit that detects bathing in the bathtub; a notification processing unit that notifies an abnormality based on the detection result by the bathing detection unit, the body temperature of the bather detected by the body temperature detection unit, and the pulse rate of the bather detected by the pulse detection unit; The notification processing unit outputs a notification based on a drop in blood pressure to the notification unit on condition that the bather's current body temperature has risen by a predetermined temperature or more with respect to the bather's initial body temperature when bathing is detected by the bathing detection unit, and the current pulse rate of the bather's current pulse has not risen by a predetermined number or more with respect to the initial pulse rate of the bather's pulse when bathing is detected by the bathing detection unit. A bath system characterized by the above.

10. The bath system according to claim 9, The notification processing unit is outputting a first notification to the notification unit under the condition that the current body temperature is increased by a predetermined temperature or more relative to the initial body temperature, and the current pulse rate is not increased by a first threshold pulse rate or more relative to the initial pulse rate, but is increased by a second threshold pulse rate or more that is smaller than the first threshold pulse rate; outputting a second notification different from the first notification from the notification unit on the condition that the current body temperature is increased by a predetermined temperature or more with respect to the initial body temperature and the current pulse rate is not increased by the second threshold pulse rate or more with respect to the initial pulse rate; A bath system characterized by the above.

11. The bath system according to claim 10, Another notification unit is provided outside the bathroom, The notification processing unit outputs a third notification based on a blood pressure decrease to the other notification unit when outputting the second notification to the notification unit. A bath system characterized by the above.

12. In the bath system according to claim 10 or 11, The notification processing unit transmits, to the mobile terminal device, an abnormality notification for notifying a possibility of an abnormality due to a drop in blood pressure, when causing the notification unit to output the second notification. A bath system characterized by the above.

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