Imaging device

Abstract

An imaging device 1 that: captures images of excrement; is disposed in a toilet bowl 101 that has a bowl section; and comprises a sensor unit 2 including an imaging sensor 21. The angle of view and the attachment position of the sensor unit 2 are set such that at least a detection area D1 in which excrement can be expected to fall into the bowl section 101a is included in the field of view.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an imaging device for imaging excrement. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, nursing facilities and the like are required to objectively manage the excrement of care recipients. To achieve this, a technique has been proposed in which an imaging device for imaging excrement is attached to a toilet bowl. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an excrement imaging device that includes a plate part that is attached to the rear upper surface of a bowl part, and an imaging means for imaging excrement is provided on the plate part so as to face the bowl part.

[0003] However, in the technology of Patent Document 1, the imaging means is fixed so as to face the bowl portion, making it difficult to capture excrement that has fallen into the bowl portion within the angle of view of the imaging means, and further improvement is needed. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2018-126331 A Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide an imaging device that is capable of capturing excrement that has fallen into a bowl portion within the angle of view.

[0006] An imaging device in one aspect of the present disclosure is an imaging device that captures images of excrement, and is attached to the edge of a toilet having a bowl portion and an edge portion located at the upper part of the bowl portion, and is equipped with a sensor unit including an imaging sensor, and the angle of view and mounting position of the sensor unit are set so that at least a detection area in which the excrement is expected to fall into the bowl portion is included within the field of view.

[0007] According to the present disclosure, excrement that falls into the bowl portion can be contained within the angle of view. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is an external view of a toilet to which an imaging device according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure is applied. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of mounting the sensor unit shown in FIG. 1 on a toilet bowl. [Diagram 3] 1. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another example of how the sensor unit shown in FIG. 1 is attached to a toilet bowl. [Figure 4] 1. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing yet another example of how the sensor unit shown in FIG. 1 is attached to a toilet bowl. [Diagram 5] 1. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing yet another example of how the sensor unit shown in FIG. 1 is attached to a toilet bowl. [Figure 6] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of mounting a sensor unit to a toilet in a comparative example of the present disclosure. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing another example of mounting a sensor unit to a toilet in a comparative example of the present disclosure. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing yet another example of how a sensor unit is attached to a toilet in a comparative example of the present disclosure. [Figure 9] 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of an imaging device according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 10] 11 is a flowchart showing an example of a process for initializing a setting value according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 11] 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a process for setting a detection area according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 12] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a mark placed on a toilet bowl. [Figure 13] 11A to 11C are diagrams illustrating the installation work of the sensor unit. [Figure 14] FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of an imaging device according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 15] 11 is a flowchart showing an example of processing performed by an imaging device according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 16] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of processing performed by an imaging device in the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] (Background to this disclosure) Excretion history information indicating the number and time of excretion actions such as urination, defecation, and flatus is important information for understanding a person's health risk. In particular, in nursing homes that accommodate many elderly people who are prone to constipation, it is necessary to objectively record the excretion history information of the care recipients and have them take medicines such as laxatives appropriately. However, since there are many care recipients in nursing homes, it is not easy to impose the task of recording such excretion history information on care staff because it increases the burden on the care staff. Therefore, the present inventors are conducting research into technology to automatically manage such excretion history information without human intervention.

[0010] In order to automatically generate such excretion history information, it is effective to install an imaging device in the toilet, use the installed imaging device to capture images of the excrement that has fallen into the bowl, and analyze and record the obtained image data.

[0011] However, the angle of view of a typical imaging device is narrow at 45 degrees, and when such an imaging device is installed in a toilet, there are cases where the excrement that has fallen into the bowl does not fit within the angle of view of the imaging device. Also, imaging devices generally called wide-angle cameras have an angle of view of 60 degrees, and even when such an imaging device is installed, it is difficult to fit the excrement that has fallen into the bowl within the angle of view. Therefore, when a conventional imaging device is installed in a toilet, it is not possible to accurately detect the presence or absence and type of excrement from the image data.

[0012] Furthermore, if an ultra-wide-angle imaging device is installed, it is also possible to capture excrement that has fallen into the bowl within the angle of view. However, since the angle of view at which excrement that has fallen into the bowl can be captured varies depending on the mounting position of the imaging device, simply mounting an ultra-wide-angle imaging device to the toilet may result in an excessive or insufficient angle of view.

[0013] The inventor then discovered that by setting the angle of view and mounting position of the sensor unit so that at least the detection area in which excrement is expected to fall into the bowl portion is included within the field of view, it is possible to contain excrement falling into the bowl portion within the angle of view, and this led to the conceiving of the various aspects of the present disclosure described below.

[0014] An imaging device in one aspect of the present disclosure is an imaging device that captures images of excrement, and is attached to the edge of a toilet having a bowl portion and an edge portion located at the upper part of the bowl portion, and is equipped with a sensor unit including an imaging sensor, and the angle of view and mounting position of the sensor unit are set so that at least a detection area in which excrement is expected to fall into the bowl portion is included within the field of view.

[0015] According to this configuration, the sensor unit has an angle of view and an attachment position set so that at least the detection area is included within the field of view of the sensor unit, so that the excrement can be contained within the angle of view, and as a result, the presence and type of feces can be detected with high accuracy from the image data.

[0016] In the above imaging device, the edge portion has an opening, and when viewing the opening from above, a first position is a predetermined position on the center line between a first intersection, which is an intersection point between a front-to-rear center line of the opening and a front of the opening, and a second intersection, which is an intersection point between the center line and a front of the detection area, and a second position is a predetermined position on the center line between a third intersection, which is an intersection point between the center line and a rear of the detection area, and a fourth intersection, which is an intersection point between the center line and a rear of the opening, the sensor unit may have the angle of view and the mounting position set so that the first position and the second position are included within the field of view.

[0017] According to this configuration, the angle of view and the mounting position of the sensor unit are set so that the first position and the second position are included in the field of view, which makes it possible to more reliably contain the excrement within the angle of view.

[0018] In the imaging device, the first position may be a first intersection, and the second position may be a fourth intersection.

[0019] According to this configuration, since the first position is the first intersection point, which is the front intersection point between the center line and the opening, and the second position is the fourth intersection point, which is the rear intersection point between the center line and the opening, most of the area of ​​the bowl portion can be contained within the angle of view. This makes it possible to more reliably contain excrement within the angle of view.

[0020] In the imaging device, the mounting position may be a position diagonally rearward of the detection area, and the angle of view may be 83 degrees or greater.

[0021] When the sensor unit is installed diagonally rearward of the detection area, the angle of view required to fit most of the bowl area within the angle of view was investigated for various toilets and found to be 83 degrees. With this configuration, because the angle of view is 83 degrees or more, when the sensor unit is installed diagonally rearward of the detection area, most of the bowl area can be fit within the angle of view, and excrement can be more reliably included within the angle of view.

[0022] In addition, toilets are generally configured such that when the toilet seat is placed over the bowl portion, the toilet seat protrudes into the opening at a position diagonally rearward of the bowl portion. Therefore, by positioning the sensor unit diagonally rearward of the detection area, it is possible to make it difficult for a person using the toilet to notice the presence of the sensor unit.

[0023] In the imaging device, the attachment position may be a position in front of or behind the detection area.

[0024] When the sensor unit is attached to the front or rear of the detection area, the angle of view required to fit most of the bowl area within the field of view was investigated for various toilets and found to be 101 degrees. With this configuration, because the angle of view is 101 degrees or more, when the sensor unit is attached to the front or rear of the detection area, most of the bowl area can be fit within the angle of view, and excrement can be more reliably fit within the angle of view.

[0025] In the imaging device, the angle of view may be 105 degrees or greater.

[0026] When various toilets were examined for the angle of view required to fit most of the bowl area within the field of view, regardless of the mounting position of the sensor unit, it was found to be 105 degrees. With this configuration, because the angle of view is 105 degrees or more, most of the bowl area can be fit within the angle of view regardless of the mounting position of the sensor unit, and excrement can be more reliably fit within the angle of view.

[0027] The imaging device may further include an attachment section for removably attaching the sensor section to the toilet bowl.

[0028] According to this configuration, the sensor unit can be attached to any position on the toilet, so the sensor unit can be retrofitted to an existing toilet.

[0029] The imaging device may further include a calibration execution unit that acquires image data of a mark provided at a specific position on the toilet from the imaging sensor, detects an appearance position of the mark from the acquired image data, and performs a calibration to set an area corresponding to the detection area in the image data based on the detected appearance position.

[0030] According to this configuration, a calibration is performed in which the appearance position of the mark is detected from image data obtained by capturing an image of the mark, and an area corresponding to the detection area is set in the image data based on the detected appearance position. Therefore, by setting the area corresponding to the detection area obtained by the calibration in image data captured subsequently, the area in which excrement appears can be quickly extracted from the image data. As a result, the presence or absence and type of excrement can be accurately and quickly determined based on the detection area. In addition, by storing image data within the detection area, rather than the entire image data, as excretion history information in memory, it is possible to save memory capacity. Furthermore, by processing the detection area as the processing target, the processing load can be reduced compared to when processing the entire image data.

[0031] The imaging device may further include a gender determination unit that detects the falling position of urine into the bowl portion from image data captured by the imaging sensor and determines the gender of the excretor based on the detected falling position.

[0032] The position where urine falls into the bowl section differs depending on gender. With this configuration, the position where urine falls into the bowl section is detected from the image data, and the gender of the excretor is determined based on the position where the urine falls. Therefore, the gender of the excretor can be identified. This makes it possible to generate excretion history information in which gender and image data are associated with each other.

[0033] In the above configuration, the gender determination unit may determine that the excretor is male when the falling position is located in a first area, and may determine that the excretor is female when the falling position is located in a second area located behind the first area.

[0034] The position where urine falls into the bowl section is located forward for men compared to women. With this configuration, when the urine falls in the first area, the excretor is determined to be male, and when the urine falls in the second area located behind the first area, the excretor is determined to be female. Therefore, the gender of the excretor can be accurately determined.

[0035] In the aforementioned configuration, the gender determination unit may detect a seating position of the excretor, and change the first area and the second area based on a determination result.

[0036] Even for excretors of the same gender, the location where urine falls varies depending on the seating position. According to this configuration, since the first and second areas are set based on the seating position, it is possible to set the appropriate first and second areas depending on the seating position, and it is possible to accurately determine the gender of the excretor.

[0037] The present disclosure can also be realized as a program for causing a computer to execute each of the characteristic components included in such an imaging device, or as a system operated by this program. Furthermore, it goes without saying that such a computer program can be distributed on a computer-readable non-transitory recording medium such as a CD-ROM or via a communication network such as the Internet.

[0038] Note that each of the embodiments described below shows a specific example of the present disclosure. The numerical values, shapes, components, steps, and order of steps shown in the following embodiments are merely examples and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. Furthermore, among the components in the following embodiments, components that are not described in an independent claim showing the highest concept are described as optional components. Furthermore, in all of the embodiments, the respective contents can be combined.

[0039] (Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is an external view of a toilet 101 to which an imaging device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure is applied. The toilet 101 is a flush toilet. The toilet 101 includes a bowl 101a, a rim 101b, and an opening 101c. The rim 101b is a frame located at the top of the toilet 101 and defines the opening 101c. The bowl 101a is a bowl-shaped member located below the rim 101b, and receives feces and urine. A water puddle 104 is located below the bowl 101a. The water puddle 104 is a hole-shaped member that is greatly recessed downward and collects water. The water puddle in the water puddle 104 may extend beyond the edge of the water puddle 104, so in this embodiment, the water puddle 104 does not include the portion of the water puddle extending beyond the edge.

[0040] A drain port (not shown) is provided at the bottom of the water pool portion 104. This drain port is connected to a sewer pipe, and allows feces and urine excreted in the bowl portion 101a to flow into the sewer pipe.

[0041] A toilet seat 102 for a user to sit on is provided at the top of the toilet bowl 101. The toilet seat 102 is attached to the toilet bowl 101 so as to be rotatable around a rotation axis provided on the rear edge 101b. The user sits with the toilet seat 102 placed over the toilet bowl 101. A water storage tank 103 is provided at the rear of the toilet bowl 101 for storing flushing water for flushing feces and urine excreted into the bowl portion 101a.

[0042] A flush lever 106 is rotatably attached to the side wall of the water tank 103. When the flush lever 106 is rotated, flush water in the water tank 103 is supplied to the bowl portion 101a, and feces and urine excreted in the bowl portion 101a flows into the sewer pipe via the drain outlet.

[0043] The imaging device 1 includes a sensor unit 2, a processing device 3, and an attachment unit 6. The sensor unit 2 is attached to one end of the attachment unit 6, and the attachment unit 6 removably attaches the sensor unit 2 to the edge portion 101b. The attachment unit 6 is made of a flexible material such as resin, and is fixed to the edge portion 101b by clamping the edge portion 101b from above.

[0044] The sensor unit 2 includes a housing 24. An imaging sensor 21 (see FIG. 9) is built into the housing 24. An opening is provided in a main surface 24a of the housing 24 to guide light to the imaging sensor 21. The sensor unit 2 is attached to the edge portion 101b by an attachment portion 6 so that the main surface 24a faces the inside of the edge portion 101b. This allows the imaging sensor 21 inside the housing 24 to capture an image of the condition of the bowl portion 101a.

[0045] The processing device 3 is disposed, for example, on a side wall of the water storage tank 103. The processing device 3 is connected to the sensor unit 2 via wired or wireless communication so that they can communicate with each other. The processing device 3 acquires image data captured by the imaging sensor 21, and determines the presence or absence of defecation based on the acquired image data.

[0046] Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of mounting the sensor unit 2 shown in Fig. 1 to a toilet 101. Fig. 2 shows the toilet 101 as seen from above. Also, in Fig. 2, the toilet seat 102 is not shown. The same applies to Figs. 3 to 8.

[0047] The horizontal angle of view of the sensor unit 2 is θ1. One of the two boundaries that define the angle of view θ1 is L1 (first boundary line), and the other boundary line is L2 (second boundary line). The area between the boundaries L1 and L2 is the field of view of the sensor unit 2. The center line of the opening 101c in the front-to-rear direction is LC. Of the two intersections between the opening 101c and the center line LC, the front intersection is P1 (first intersection point), and the rear intersection is P2 (fourth intersection point). Of the two intersections between the detection area D1 and the center line LC, the front intersection is P3 (second intersection point), and the rear intersection is P4 (third intersection point). The dimension of the opening 101c in the front-to-rear direction is LA, and the dimension in the left-to-right direction is LB. The center line of the angle of view is LD.

[0048] The contour of the opening 101c is substantially pentagonal, having two bending points K1 and K2 at the rear and three bending points at the front.

[0049] The vertical angle of view of sensor unit 2 can be, for example, a standard angle of view, e.g., 45 degrees. Specifically, sensor unit 2 is attached to toilet 101 so that the center line of the vertical angle of view is inclined downward by half the standard angle of view (e.g., 22.5 degrees) with respect to opening 101c.

[0050] 2, the sensor unit 2 is attached diagonally rearward of the detection area D1. More specifically, the sensor unit 2 is attached at a bending point K1 on the rear left side of the outline of the opening 101c. Note that this is just an example, and the sensor unit 2 may be attached at a bending point K2 on the rear right side of the outline of the opening 101c.

[0051] Detection area D1 is an area in which excrement (feces) is expected to fall into bowl portion 101a, and is, for example, a rectangular area that largely overlaps with pool portion 104.

[0052] In order to capture an image of the excrement excreted in the bowl portion 101a, at least the detection area D1 is required to be within the angle of view θ1. More preferably, most of the area of ​​the bowl portion 101a is required to be within the angle of view θ1. Therefore, in the example of Fig. 2, the angle of view θ1 is set so that the boundary line L1 passes through the intersection point P1 and the boundary line L2 passes through the intersection point P2.

[0053] When the sensor unit 2 is attached diagonally rearward of the detection area D1, the angle of view θ1 required for the boundary line L1 to pass through the intersection point P1 and the boundary line L2 to pass through the intersection point P2 was measured. In a standard size toilet 101 with a dimension LA of 320 mm to 350 mm and a dimension LB of 290 mm, the angle of view θ1 was approximately 83 degrees. Specifically, the angle of view θ1 was 83.4 degrees for a toilet 101 with a dimension LA of 350 mm. Therefore, in the example of FIG. 2, the angle of view θ1 is set to 83.4 degrees. The angle of view of the sensor unit 2 may be realized by adjusting the angle of view of the image sensor 21, or may be realized by adjusting an opening provided in the housing 24.

[0054] The dimension LA of the large-sized toilet 101 is 360mm to 380mm. In this case, a viewing angle θ1 of approximately 87 degrees is required to ensure that boundary line L1 passes through intersection point P1 and boundary line L2 passes through intersection point P2. Therefore, in this embodiment, when sensor unit 2 is attached diagonally behind detection area D1 in a large-sized toilet 101, the viewing angle θ1 is set to approximately 87 degrees.

[0055] From the above, it can be seen that when the sensor unit 2 is attached diagonally rearward of the detection area D1, regardless of whether it is the standard size or the large size, in order for the boundary line L1 to pass through the intersection point P1 and the boundary line L2 to pass through the intersection point P2, the angle of view θ1 needs to be 83.4 degrees or more, and taking a margin into account, 83 degrees or more is sufficient.

[0056] When the toilet seat 102 is placed over the edge 101b, it often has a shape that protrudes significantly toward the opening 101c around the bending points K1 and K2, and does not protrude much toward the opening 101c in front of the edge 101b. Also, a private part washer may be placed around the intersection P2, making it difficult to attach the sensor unit 2. Therefore, if the sensor unit 2 is attached diagonally behind the detection area D1, it is easy to attach the sensor unit 2 and it is difficult for the excretor to notice the sensor unit 2.

[0057] Fig. 3 is a diagram showing another example of mounting the sensor unit 2 shown in Fig. 1 to the toilet bowl 101. In the example of Fig. 3, the sensor unit 2 is mounted to the side of the detection area D1. In detail, the sensor unit 2 is mounted at the center O of the opening 101c, at the intersection P7 on the left side between a straight line perpendicular to the center line LC and the outline of the opening 101c. Note that this is just one example, and the sensor unit 2 may also be mounted at the intersection P8 on the right side. The center O is, for example, the middle position of the center line LC.

[0058] When sensor unit 2 is attached to the side of detection area D1, the angle of view necessary for boundary line L1 to pass through intersection point P1 and boundary line L2 to pass through intersection point P2 was measured. In the standard-sized toilet 101, the angle of view θ2 was 101 degrees. Meanwhile, in the large-sized toilet 101, the angle of view θ2 was 105 degrees. Therefore, in this embodiment, when sensor unit 2 is installed to the side of detection area D1, the angle of view θ2 is set to 101 degrees in the standard-sized toilet 101, and the angle of view θ2 is set to 105 degrees in the large-sized toilet 101.

[0059] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing yet another example of mounting the sensor unit 2 shown in FIG. 1 to the toilet 101. In the example of FIG. 4, the sensor unit 2 is mounted behind the detection area D1. More specifically, the sensor unit 2 is mounted at the intersection P2. Note that this is just one example, and the sensor unit 2 may be mounted at the intersection P1. In the example of FIG. 4, the angle of view θ2 is set to the same value as in FIG. 3. That is, the angle of view θ2 is set to 101 degrees in the standard size toilet 101, and the angle of view θ2 is set to 105 degrees in the large size toilet 101. This allows most of the area of ​​the bowl portion 101a to be contained within the angle of view θ2.

[0060] Figure 5 is a diagram showing yet another example of mounting the sensor unit 2 shown in Figure 1 to the toilet 101. In the example of Figure 5, the sensor unit 2 is mounted on a standard size toilet 101, and the angle of view θ2 is set to 101 degrees. Also, as in the case of Figure 2, the sensor unit 2 is mounted diagonally rearward of the detection area D1. In the example of Figure 5, because the angle of view θ2 is set to 101 degrees, it can be seen that intersection points P1 and P2 are included within the angle of view θ2.

[0061] 2 to 5, when the mounting position of sensor unit 2 is changed on the contour of opening 101c, it can be seen that the maximum value of the angle of view of sensor unit 2 required for boundary line L1 to pass through intersection point P1 and boundary line L2 to pass through intersection point P2 is when sensor unit 2 is mounted to the side of detection area D1.

[0062] From the above, the relationship between the mounting position of the sensor unit 2 and the angle of view of the sensor unit 2 is as follows.

[0063] If the angle of view of sensor unit 2 is set to 105 degrees or more, positions P1 and P2 can be accommodated within the angle of view in both large and standard size toilets 101, regardless of the mounting position of sensor unit 2.

[0064] If the angle of view of sensor unit 2 is set to 101 degrees or more, then in a standard size toilet 101, positions P1 and P2 can be accommodated within the angle of view regardless of the mounting position of sensor unit 2.

[0065] If the angle of view of sensor unit 2 is set to 87 degrees or more, in large and standard size toilets 101, positions P1 and P2 can be accommodated within the angle of view even if sensor unit 2 is attached diagonally rearward of detection area D1.

[0066] If the angle of view of sensor unit 2 is set to 83 degrees or more, then in a standard size toilet 101, even if sensor unit 2 is attached diagonally rearward of detection area D1, positions P1 and P2 can be accommodated within the angle of view.

[0067] Therefore, when the sensor unit 2 is attached diagonally rearward of the detection area D1, the angle of view of the sensor unit 2 can be minimized.

[0068] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of mounting the sensor unit 2000 to the toilet 101 in a comparative example of the present disclosure. The angle of view θA of the sensor unit 2000 is 45 degrees, which is the standard angle of view. In the example of FIG. 6, the sensor unit 2000 is mounted to the side of the detection area D1. Because the angle of view θA of the sensor unit 2000 is only 45 degrees, the intersection points P1 and P2 are not located within the angle of view θA. Furthermore, the boundary line L2 is located forward of the intersection point P4. Therefore, in the example of FIG. 6, not only most of the area of ​​the bowl portion 101a but also the detection area D1 cannot be included within the angle of view θA.

[0069] Fig. 7 is a diagram showing another example of mounting the sensor unit 2000 to the toilet 101 in a comparative example of the present disclosure. In the example of Fig. 7, the sensor unit 2000 is mounted behind the detection area D1. The sensor unit 2000 has a viewing angle θA of only 45 degrees. Therefore, in the example of Fig. 7, not only most of the area of ​​the bowl portion 101a but also the detection area D1 cannot be accommodated within the viewing angle θA.

[0070] Figure 8 is a diagram showing yet another example of mounting the sensor unit 2000 to the toilet bowl 101 in a comparative example of the present disclosure. In the example of Figure 8, the sensor unit 2000 is mounted diagonally rearward of the detection area D1. The sensor unit 2000 has a viewing angle θA of only 45 degrees. As a result, the boundary line L2 passes through the inside of the detection area D1, and not only most of the area of ​​the bowl portion 101a but even the detection area D1 cannot be accommodated within the viewing angle θA.

[0071] As a result, in the sensor unit 2000 of the comparative example, the detection area D1 cannot be accommodated within the angle of view θA, and therefore, there is a high possibility that the feces cannot be accommodated within the angle of view θA.

[0072] 9 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of the imaging device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. The imaging device 1 includes the sensor unit 2 and the processing device 3 shown in FIG.

[0073] The imaging sensor 21 captures a color image having color components of R (red), G (green), and B (blue) at a predetermined frame rate, for example. The communication unit 22 is composed of, for example, a communication circuit that causes the sensor unit 2 to communicate with the processing device 3 via a wireless or wired communication path. As the wireless communication path, a wireless LAN such as WiFi (registered trademark) is adopted. However, this is only an example, and as the wireless communication path, Bluetooth (registered trademark), infrared communication, etc. may also be adopted. As the wired communication path, a wired LAN such as IEEE802.3 is adopted. The communication unit 22 transmits image data captured by the imaging sensor 21 to the processing device 3.

[0074] The processing device 3 includes a processor 31, a memory 32, a communication unit 33, and an operation unit 34. The processor 31 is configured with an electric circuit such as a CPU or an ASIC. The processor 31 includes a calibration execution unit 311, an excrement determination unit 312, and a determination result output unit 313.

[0075] The calibration execution unit 311 acquires image data of a mark provided at a specific position on the toilet bowl 101 from the imaging sensor 21, detects the appearance position of the mark from the acquired image data, and performs a calibration to set an area corresponding to the detection area D1 in the image data based on the detected appearance position.

[0076] The detection area D1 is an area that is extracted from the image data as a processing target when determining the presence and type of excrement that has fallen into the bowl portion 101a.

[0077] The excrement determining unit 312 executes image processing to determine the presence or absence of excrement in the bowl portion 101a and the type of excrement, based on image data captured by the imaging sensor 21. Specifically, the excrement determining unit 312 executes the following processing.

[0078] First, the excrement determining unit 312 extracts a detection area set by calibration from the image data, and calculates differential image data between the image data of the extracted detection area and the base image data.

[0079] Here, the base image data is generated based on a plurality of image data of the bowl portion 101a obtained by, for example, imaging the state of the bowl portion 101a in which no feces or urination has occurred, multiple times, using the image sensor 21. That is, the base image data is color image data of the detection area showing the default state of the bowl portion 101a in which no feces or urination has occurred. Therefore, by taking the difference between the image data of the detection area imaged during defecation or urination and the base image data, it is possible to extract image data showing feces, urination, or foreign objects.

[0080] Next, the excrement determination unit 312 calculates an RGB ratio, which is the ratio of each of the color components R, G, and B in the differential image data. Here, the RGB ratio is, for example, the ratio between the sum of the luminance of the R component, the sum of the luminance of the G component, and the sum of the luminance of the B component in the differential image data.

[0081] Next, the excrement determination unit 312 calculates the distance between the calculated RGB ratio and a predetermined RGB ratio of feces, and if the calculated distance is equal to or less than the reference distance, determines that there is feces in the bowl portion 101a. The excrement determination unit 312 also calculates the distance between the calculated RGB ratio and a predetermined RGB ratio of urine, and if the calculated distance is equal to or less than the reference distance, determines that there is urine in the bowl portion 101a. In addition, in cases other than these, the excrement determination unit 312 determines that there is a foreign object in the bowl portion 101a. The foreign object is, for example, a paper diaper.

[0082] The determination result output unit 313 generates excretion history information based on the determination result by the excretion determination unit 312, and transmits it to the server 5 via the communication unit 33. The excretion history information is information in which information indicating an excretion act, which indicates that defecation or urination has been performed, is associated with date and time information indicating the date and time when the excretion act was performed. Furthermore, the excretion history information may include image data used to detect excretion. In this case, only the area of ​​the detection area D1 set in the image data may be included in the excretion history information.

[0083] The memory 32 is configured with a storage device such as a flash memory, etc. The memory 32 includes a firmware storage unit 321 that stores firmware for the processing device 3, and a setting value storage unit 322 that stores the setting value of the detection area D1.

[0084] The communication unit 33 is configured with a communication circuit having a function for connecting the processing device 3 to the sensor unit 2 so that they can communicate with each other. The communication unit 33 also has a function for connecting the processing device 3 to a network 4. The network 4 is, for example, the Internet. The communication unit 33 transmits the excretion history information to the server 5.

[0085] The operation unit 34 is made up of one or more buttons, and accepts various operations input by the user.

[0086] Next, calibration will be described. In the calibration, a process for initializing a set value and a process for setting a detection area are executed. Fig. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the process for initializing a set value according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0087] The initialization process of the set values ​​is performed prior to the process of setting the detection area. In step S1, the calibration execution unit 311 determines whether or not a predetermined operation for starting the initialization process has been accepted by the operation unit 34. If the predetermined operation has been accepted by the operation unit 34 (YES in step S1), the process proceeds to step S2. On the other hand, if the predetermined operation has not been accepted by the operation unit 34 (NO in step S1), the process waits in step S1.

[0088] In step S2, the calibration execution unit 311 writes the initial setting value of the detection area D1 stored in the firmware storage unit 321 into the setting value storage unit 322 as the setting value of the detection area D1.

[0089] 11 is a flowchart showing an example of a setting process of the detection area D1 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. In step S11, the calibration execution unit 311 determines whether or not a predetermined operation for starting the setting process of the detection area D1 has been accepted by the operation unit 34.

[0090] If the predetermined operation is accepted (YES in step S11), the process proceeds to step S12, and if the predetermined operation is not accepted (NO in step S11), the process waits in step S11. Here, the predetermined operation for starting the setting process of the detection area D1 is, for example, pressing and holding a predetermined button provided on the housing of the processing device 3 for a long time (for example, 5 seconds or more).

[0091] In step S 12 , the calibration execution unit 311 acquires image data from the imaging sensor 21 .

[0092] In step S13, the calibration execution unit 311 detects the appearance position on the image data of the mark M1 located at a predetermined position on the toilet bowl 101. The calibration execution unit 311 may detect the appearance position using, for example, pattern recognition processing or the like. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the mark M1 placed on the toilet bowl 101. The mark M1 is made up of a sticker, and is attached in advance by the user to the inner wall 101d of the edge portion 101b of the toilet bowl 101 prior to calibration. Specifically, the mark M1 is attached to the inner wall 101d when the sensor unit 2 is attached to the toilet bowl 101. The user who performs these tasks may be an end user, or a worker who installs the sensor unit 2.

[0093] 13 is a diagram illustrating the installation work of sensor unit 2. First, the user attaches mounting part 6 to edge part 101b of a protrusion (not shown) provided on the bottom surface of toilet seat 102, avoiding the contact position with edge part 101b, and then attaches sensor unit 2 to toilet bowl 101.

[0094] Next, the user imagines a detection area D1 within bowl portion 101a. Detection area D1 is an area into which stool is expected to fall. For example, detection area D1 has a center P0 located at or near the rear end of puddle portion 104 and has a size similar to that of puddle portion 104. However, this is just one example, and detection area D1 may have a size larger than puddle portion 104 or may have a size smaller than puddle portion 104. The user may imagine detection area D1 by referring to detection area D1 illustrated in the installation manual for sensor unit 2, for example.

[0095] Next, the user attaches a mark M1 to the intersection of a reference line LR that passes between an opening that guides light to the image sensor 21 provided in the housing 24 of the sensor unit 2 and the center P0 of the detection area D1, and the inner wall 101d. As shown in Fig. 12, the mark M1 is, for example, cross-shaped. The user attaches the mark M1 so that the vertical lines of the cross-shaped mark M1 face up and down and the horizontal lines face horizontally.

[0096] In step S14, the calibration execution unit 311 sets a position corresponding to the center P0 of the detection area D1 at a position in the image data that is a predetermined distance away in a predetermined direction from the appearance position of the mark M1. For example, the calibration execution unit 311 may set a position corresponding to the center P0 at a position a predetermined distance away on a downward extension of the vertical line of the cross-shaped mark M1 that appears in the image data. For example, the predetermined distance is a value that is determined in advance based on the distance of a line segment that is assumed when the line segment connecting the mark M1 and the center P0 is projected onto the imaging surface of the image sensor 21.

[0097] In step S15, the calibration execution unit 311 sets an area corresponding to the detection area D1 in the image data based on the position corresponding to the center P0. Here, for the shape and size of the area corresponding to the detection area D1, for example, values ​​determined in advance based on the size and shape of the detection area D1 assumed when the detection area D1 is projected onto the imaging surface of the image sensor 21 are adopted.

[0098] In step S16, the calibration execution unit 311 judges whether or not the area corresponding to the detection area D1 has been set. If the area corresponding to the detection area D1 has been set (YES in step S16), the calibration execution unit 311 rewrites the initial setting value stored in the setting value storage unit 322 with the setting value of the area corresponding to the detection area D1 (step S17). The setting value of the area corresponding to the detection area D1 includes, for example, coordinates indicating the shape of the area corresponding to the detection area D1. On the other hand, if the area corresponding to the detection area D1 cannot be set (NO in step S16), the calibration execution unit 311 does not rewrite the initial setting value (step S18). This ends the calibration. Examples of cases in which the area corresponding to the detection area D1 cannot be set include a case in which the mark M1 cannot be detected, a case in which the position corresponding to the center P0 cannot be set in the image data, and a case in which the area corresponding to the detection area D1 does not fit within the image data.

[0099] Thus, according to the imaging device 1 in embodiment 1, the mounting position and angle of view of the sensor unit 2 are set as described above, so that not only the detection area D1 but most of the area of ​​the bowl portion 101a can be included within the angle of view of the sensor unit 2.

[0100] (Embodiment 2) In the second embodiment, the gender of the excretor is determined from the position where the urine falls. Fig. 14 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an imaging device 1A in the second embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0101] The processor 31A of the processing device 3A of the imaging device 1A further includes a gender determination unit 314 in addition to the components of the processor 31 in FIG.

[0102] The gender determination unit 314 detects the position at which the urine falls into the bowl portion 101a from the image data captured by the image sensor 21, and determines the gender of the excretor based on the detected position at which the urine falls.

[0103] Here, if the detected falling position is located in the first area, the gender determination unit 314 determines that the excretor is male, and if the detected falling position is located in the second area located behind the first area, the gender determination unit 314 determines that the excretor is female.

[0104] Furthermore, the gender determination unit 314 may detect the seating position of the excretor, and set the first area and the second area based on the determination result.

[0105] Fig. 15 is a flowchart showing an example of processing of the imaging device 1A in the second embodiment of the present disclosure. It is assumed that the imaging sensor 21 captures image data at a predetermined frame rate in parallel with the flowchart of Fig. 15. In step S31, the gender determination unit 314 acquires sensing data used to determine the seating position. Here, the image data captured by the imaging sensor 21 is adopted as the sensing data.

[0106] In step S32, the gender determination unit 314 detects the seating position of the excretor from the sensing data. Fig. 16 is an explanatory diagram of the process of the imaging device 1A in the second embodiment. The seating position is represented by using coordinate axes 1601 shown in Fig. 16. The coordinate axes 1601 are, for example, one-dimensional coordinates with the longitudinal direction being the front-rear direction.

[0107] When image data is used as the sensing data, the seating position is detected by the following three methods. The first method is a method of detecting the seating position based on the position of the apex of the buttocks appearing in the image data. For example, the gender determination unit 314 performs image processing on the image data acquired when the excretor sits on the toilet seat 102, and detects the position of the apex of the buttocks on the image data. Here, the gender determination unit 314 may extract an area showing the buttocks from the image data based on the ratio of the RGB color components, for example, and detect the lower end of the contour line of the extracted area as the position of the apex of the buttocks. Then, the gender determination unit 314 may calculate the position on the coordinate axis 1601 corresponding to the position of the apex of the buttocks, and detect the calculated position as the seating position.

[0108] The second method is to detect the position of the anus of the excretor from the image data, and detect the seating position based on the detected anus position. For example, the gender determination unit 314 may detect the position of the anus from the image data of the excretion based on the position of the origin of the stool in the middle of excretion. Here, the gender determination unit 314 may extract the area of ​​the stool in the middle of excretion from the image data, and detect the position of the top end of the extracted area of ​​the stool as the position of the origin of the stool. Then, the gender determination unit 314 may calculate the position on the coordinate axis 1601 corresponding to the detected anus position, and detect the calculated position as the seating position.

[0109] The third method is to detect the seating position based on the brightness of the image data. When the excretor sits shallowly on the toilet seat 102, a lot of external light enters the bowl portion, so the image data captured by the image sensor 21 becomes bright. On the other hand, when the excretor sits deeply on the toilet seat 102, the amount of external light entering the bowl portion decreases, so the image data captured by the image sensor 21 becomes dark. In other words, there is a correlation between the seating position and the brightness inside the bowl portion 101a. The third method utilizes this to detect the seating position.

[0110] For example, the gender determination unit 314 determines the luminance of image data acquired when the excretor sits on the toilet seat 102. For example, the gender determination unit 314 may calculate the average luminance of multiple pixels constituting the image data as the luminance of the image data. The luminance of each pixel may be, for example, the average value of the R, G, and B values ​​of each pixel. Then, the gender determination unit 314 may detect the seating position corresponding to the calculated luminance of the image data as the seating position of the excretor by referring to a table in which the luminance of the image data and the seating position are previously associated with each other.

[0111] The seating position may be detected using an illuminance sensor. As described in the third method, there is a correlation between the seating position and the brightness in the bowl portion 101a. Therefore, the gender determination unit 314 may refer to a table in which the relationship between the illuminance in the bowl portion 101a and the seating position is previously associated, thereby identifying the seating position corresponding to the illuminance in the bowl portion 101a detected by the illuminance sensor, and detect the identified seating position as the seating position of the excretor. In this case, the illuminance sensor may be provided in the housing 24 of the sensor unit 2. In this case, data indicating the illuminance detected by the illuminance sensor is adopted as the sensing data.

[0112] In step S33, the gender determination unit 314 sets areas corresponding to the first and second areas in the image data based on the detected seating position. FIG. 16 is a diagram showing the first area D11 and the second area D12. The first area D11 is a rectangular area that is determined in advance based on the position on the bowl part 101a where urine is expected to fall when a man urinates. The second area D12 is a rectangular area that is determined in advance based on the position on the bowl part 101a where urine is expected to fall when a woman urinates. The urine fall position is located more forward for men than for women. Therefore, the first area D11 is set forward of the second area D12. The first area D11 and the second area D12 have a symmetrical shape with respect to the center line of the opening 101c when the bowl part 101a is viewed from above. The shapes of the first area D11 and the second area D12 are not limited to rectangular shapes and may be circular.

[0113] If the first area D11 and the second area D12 are fixed, the position where the urine falls may deviate from the first area D11 and the second area D12 depending on the seating position of the excretor. Therefore, in this embodiment, the first area D11 and the second area D12 are set at positions that are determined in advance depending on the seating position. For example, the first area D11 and the second area D12 are shifted forward as the seating position moves forward.

[0114] In addition, the areas corresponding to the first area D11 and the second area D12 set on the image data have a predetermined size and shape based on the size and shape of the first area D11 and the second area D12 expected when the first area D11 and the second area D12 are projected onto the imaging surface of the imaging sensor 21.

[0115] In step S34, the gender determination unit 314 detects whether or not urination has started. Here, the gender determination unit 314 monitors a plurality of image data captured by the image sensor 21, and when an object that changes in a parabolic shape is detected in the image data, it may determine that urination has started.

[0116] When it is detected that urination has started (YES in step S34), the gender determination unit 314 detects the falling position of the urine (step S36). Here, the gender determination unit 314 monitors a plurality of image data captured by the image sensor 21, and detects the lower end position of the object that is converted into a parabola as the falling position.

[0117] On the other hand, if the start of urination is not detected (NO in step S34), the gender determination unit 314 determines whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed (step S35). If the predetermined time has elapsed (YES in step S35), it is determined that the excretor has not performed an excretory act, and the process ends. On the other hand, if the predetermined time has not elapsed (NO in step S35), the process returns to step S34.

[0118] In step S37, the gender determination unit 314 judges whether the drop position is located within the first region D11 (step S37). When it is judged that the drop position is located within the first region D11 (YES in step S37), the gender determination unit 314 judges that the excretor is male (step S39). On the other hand, when the drop position is not located within the first region D11 (NO in step S37), the gender determination unit 314 judges whether the drop position is located within the second region D12 (step S38). When it is judged that the drop position is located within the second region D12 (YES in step S38), the gender determination unit 314 judges that the excretor is female (step S40). On the other hand, when it is judged that the drop position is not located within the second region D12 (NO in step S38), the gender determination unit 314 ends the process.

[0119] In this way, the imaging device 1A in the second embodiment can determine the gender of the excretor by detecting the position where the urine fell from the image data.

[0120] (Embodiment 3) 2 to 5, the angle of view and the mounting position of the sensor unit 2 are set so that the intersection points P1 and P2 fall within the field of view of the sensor unit 2. In the third embodiment, under the constraint that the detection area D1 shown in Fig. 13 is included within the field of view of the sensor unit 2, the angle of view and the mounting position of the sensor unit 2 are set so that the boundary line L1 shown in Fig. 2 passes through a position P5 on the center line LC between the intersection points P1 and P3, and the boundary line L2 passes through a position P6 on the center line LC between the intersection points P4 and P2.

[0121] Thus, in the third embodiment, under the constraint that the detection area is included within the field of view of the sensor unit 2, the angle of view and the mounting position of the sensor unit 2 are set so that the boundary line L1 passes through position P5 and the boundary line L2 passes through position P6. Therefore, the detection area D1 can be included within the field of view with a smaller angle of view. [Industrial Applicability]

[0122] According to the present disclosure, since excrement can be contained within the angle of view, it is useful in technical fields in which excrement is detected based on image data.

Claims

1. An imaging device for capturing an image of excrement, a sensor unit including an imaging sensor attached to the edge of a toilet having a bowl portion and an edge portion located at an upper portion of the bowl portion; The sensor unit has an angle of view and an attachment position set so that a detection area in which the excrement is expected to fall into the bowl portion is included within a field of view, a calibration execution unit that acquires image data of an image of a mark provided at a specific position on the toilet from the imaging sensor, detects an appearance position of the mark from the acquired image data, and executes a calibration to set an area corresponding to the detection area in the image data based on the detected appearance position; Imaging device.

2. The edge has an opening, When viewing the opening from above, a first position is a predetermined position on the center line between a first intersection point, which is an intersection point between a center line in a front-rear direction of the opening and a front part of the opening, and a second intersection point, which is an intersection point between the center line and a front part of the detection area; A predetermined position on the center line between a third intersection point, which is an intersection point of the center line and a rear part of the detection area, and a fourth intersection point, which is an intersection point of the center line and a rear part of the opening, is defined as a second position. The angle of view and the mounting position of the sensor unit are set so that the first position and the second position are included in a field of view. The imaging device according to claim 1.

3. the first location is a first intersection; the second location is a fourth intersection point; The imaging device according to claim 2.

4. The mounting position is a position diagonally rearward of the detection area, The angle of view is 83 degrees or more.

4. The imaging device according to claim 1.

5. The mounting position is a position in front of or behind the detection area, The angle of view is 101 degrees or more.

4. The imaging device according to claim 1.

6. The angle of view is 105 degrees or more.

4. The imaging device according to claim 1.

7. Further comprising an attachment part for removably attaching the sensor part to the toilet bowl.

7. The imaging device according to claim 1.

8. a gender determination unit that detects a falling position of urine into the bowl portion from image data captured by the imaging sensor and determines a gender of the excretor based on the detected falling position, The imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. the gender determination unit determines that the excretor is male when the drop position is located in a first area, and determines that the excretor is female when the drop position is located in a second area provided behind the first area.

9. The imaging device according to claim 8.

10. the gender determination unit detects a seating position of the excretor, and changes the first area and the second area based on a result of the detection.

10. The imaging device according to claim 9.

Images