Hot water system

Abstract

To provide a hot water system which is advantageous for watching over a person who does not live with a user, such as a relative.SOLUTION: A hot water system of the present disclosure comprises: a water heater which can supply hot water to a bathtub in a bathroom; a bathroom remote controller installed in the bathroom and equipped with a human sensor; notification means which can notify a preset first user of an alarm; and control means for notifying the first user of an alarm via the notification means if there have been no hot water supply history in a prescribed period and no detection history by the human sensor in the prescribed period.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to hot water systems. [Background technology]

[0002] In the conventional hot water supply system disclosed in Patent Document 1 below, when the security mode is on, if a person is detected in the bathroom by the human detection sensor, the intrusion of a suspicious person is detected and a warning is issued to the user. When the security mode is off, the detection of a person in the bathroom by the human detection sensor is used for bathroom-related control. When the security mode is off, the output of the human detection sensor is used to execute monitoring control, which notifies the user of the detection results of entry and bathing in the bathroom, as an example of normal control. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-16381 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Conventional technology was designed to monitor only bath time, but in recent years, there has been an increasing demand for monitoring family members who do not live together, and there is a need for monitoring functions for times other than bath time.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems. An object of the present disclosure is to provide a hot water supply system that is advantageous for watching over relatives and other people who do not live together. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The hot water supply system according to the present disclosure includes a water heater capable of supplying hot water to a bathtub in a bathroom, a bathroom remote control that is placed in the bathroom and is equipped with a human sensor, an alarm that can issue a warning to a preset first user, and a hot water supply system that has no hot water supply history for a predetermined period of time, The time that has passed since the human sensor last detected someone entering the bathroom exceeds a specified period. and a control means for notifying the first user of a warning by the notifying means in that case. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a hot water supply system that is advantageous for watching over relatives and other people who do not live together. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing a hot water supply system according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a bathroom to which the hot water supply system shown in FIG. 1 is applied. [Figure 3] 4 is a flowchart illustrating a monitoring mode in the hot water supply system according to the first embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. Common or corresponding elements in each drawing are designated by the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof will be simplified or omitted. Furthermore, the configurations shown in the following embodiments are examples of the technical ideas of the present disclosure, and may be combined with other known technologies, or multiple technical ideas described in the present disclosure may be combined. Furthermore, it is also possible to omit or modify part of the configuration within the scope of the gist of the present disclosure.

[0010] Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a hot water supply system 1 according to a first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the hot water supply system 1 includes a water heater 10, a kitchen remote control 100, and a bathroom remote control 200. The water heater 10 in this embodiment is an electric or heat pump storage-type water heater. The water heater in this disclosure is not limited to a storage-type water heater, and may be an instantaneous water heater. The water heater 10 can supply hot water to a bathtub, shower, faucet, etc. A control unit 15 constituted by a microcomputer is built into the water heater 10.

[0011] User commands for the hot water supply system 1 are input by a kitchen remote control 100 and a bathroom remote control 200. The kitchen remote control 100 and the bathroom remote control 200 are connected to the hot water heater 10 by communication lines 20 and 30.

[0012] Kitchen remote control 100 is placed, for example, on a wall surface of the kitchen. Kitchen remote control 100 has operation switch group 101 and display unit 102.

[0013] Bathroom remote control 200 is placed on the wall of bathroom 500. Bathroom remote control 200 has a group of operation switches 201, a display unit 202, and a human sensor 203.

[0014] Operation of the operation switch groups 101 and 201 commands the operation and stopping of the water heater 10. When the operation of the operation switch groups 101 and 201 enables hot water to be supplied, the control unit 15 supplies hot water to the locations where hot water is required, such as the faucet, shower, or bathtub 510, and can store the amount of hot water supplied as a hot water supply history.

[0015] Furthermore, control unit 15 can notify the user of information by controlling the display contents of display units 102, 202 in kitchen remote control 100 and bathroom remote control 200.

[0016] Kitchen remote control 100 and bathroom remote control 200 have built-in communication adapters (not shown), which enable communication with communication terminal 400 via wireless LAN router 600 and the Internet. For example, wireless LAN router 600, which has established a communication connection with Internet 700, serves as a "repeater," allowing kitchen remote control 100 and bathroom remote control 200 to establish a communication connection with server 800, which is connected to Internet 700. This enables remote operation and remote monitoring of water heater 10 via server 800.

[0017] For example, by downloading a predetermined application software to a communication terminal 400 (e.g., a smartphone) that is connected to and communicates with the server 800, it becomes possible to remotely control and remotely monitor the water heater 10 from the communication terminal 400. Note that with regard to the communication terminal 400, it is possible to remotely control and remotely monitor the water heater 10 from both the communication terminal 400b that is connected to the Internet 700 via 4G communication or the like, and the communication terminal 400a that is connected to the wireless LAN router 600 via wireless LAN.

[0018] Using the above communication connection, communication terminals 400a and 400b can perform remote operations (for example, filling a bathtub with hot water or heating stored hot water) associated with the operation of water heater 10. Alternatively, conversely, information from control unit 15 can be notified to the user from server 800 using the display screen and speaker of communication terminals 400a and 400b.

[0019] Next, the configuration related to the bathroom will be described. Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of a bathroom 500 to which the hot water supply system 1 shown in Fig. 1 is applied.

[0020] Referring to Figure 2, bathroom 500 is provided with bathroom remote control 200 equipped with bathtub 510 and human sensor 203 for detecting the presence of a person in bathroom 500. Hot water is supplied to bathtub 510 from water heater 10 via piping 40.

[0021] Human presence sensor 203 is placed near bathtub 510 in bathroom 500. Human presence sensor 203 is capable of detecting a person entering bathroom 500 and a person bathing in bathtub 510. This makes it possible to execute control related to bathroom 500, as described below, based on the output of human presence sensor 203.

[0022] 2, a bathroom may have a window 550, and the path a person (intruder) could take to enter bathroom 500 through window 550 is also included in the detection area of ​​human sensor 203. This makes it possible to detect an intruder based on the output of human sensor 203.

[0023] In this way, the output of human sensor 203 can be used for both normal control related to bathroom 500 and for detecting intruders into bathroom 500. In the hot water supply system according to this embodiment, a monitoring mode, which will be described below, is provided to utilize the output of human sensor 203, which is placed only in bathroom 500.

[0024] FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the monitoring mode in the hot water supply system according to the present embodiment.

[0025] The control unit 15 counts in advance the time that has elapsed since the last time the human sensor 203 detected entry into the bathroom 500 (hereinafter referred to as the "elapsed entry time") and the time that has elapsed since the last time hot water was supplied (hereinafter referred to as the "elapsed hot water supply time").

[0026] In this state, if entry into bathroom 500 is detected in step S1, the count of the elapsed time since entry is reset in step S2 and the count of the elapsed time since entry is started again. If no entry into bathroom 500 is detected in step S1, the process proceeds to step S3.

[0027] If hot water is supplied in step S3, the count of the hot water supply elapsed time is reset in step S4 and the count of the hot water supply elapsed time is started again. If hot water is not supplied in step S3, the process proceeds to step S5.

[0028] In step S5, if the elapsed time counted up to that point exceeds the first predetermined period, the process proceeds to step S6; if not, the process returns to step S1. This first predetermined period may be determined based on the frequency of entry into bathroom 500 under normal circumstances. The first predetermined period may be, for example, 24 hours. The user may be able to arbitrarily set the value of the first predetermined period using kitchen remote control 100 or bathroom remote control 200.

[0029] In step S6, if the elapsed time counted up to that point exceeds the second predetermined period, the process proceeds to step S7; if not, the process returns to step S1. This second predetermined period may be determined based on the frequency of hot and cold water use under normal circumstances. The second predetermined period may be, for example, 24 hours. The user may be able to arbitrarily set the value of the second predetermined period using the kitchen remote control 100 or the bathroom remote control 200.

[0030] In step S7, a warning is sent to communication terminal 400 of a pre-registered first user. The pre-registered first user is, for example, a relative who lives separately from the resident who normally uses bathroom 500.

[0031] In this way, by using the elapsed time since entry as an indicator, it can be determined that a user who normally uses bathroom 500 is not using bathroom 500, which can serve as an opportunity for family members who are far away to check on the safety of the resident who normally uses bathroom 500. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the elapsed time since hot water supply is also used as an indicator to issue an alarm. This makes it possible to reliably prevent false alarms in cases where a resident who normally uses bathroom 500 has used a public bath or the like and has not entered bathroom 500.

[0032] The control unit 15 determines that there is no hot water supply history when the amount of hot water supplied per hour by the water heater 10 is equal to or less than a predetermined value (for example, equal to or less than 10 L / min). This prevents the elapsed hot water supply time from being reset by the operation of an appliance that automatically uses hot water in the house (for example, an automatic cleaning of a dishwasher).

[0033] A user who normally uses bathroom 500 may be away for an extended period of time, for example, while traveling. For such cases, hot water supply system 1 includes a means for accepting a request to suspend operation of water heater 10. This request to suspend operation can be accepted, for example, by kitchen remote control 100, bathroom remote control 200, or communication terminal 400.

[0034] Since the resident is not in the house while the water heater 10 is out of operation, it is better to stop the monitoring mode. Therefore, the control unit 15 does not issue a warning to the first user while the water heater 10 is out of operation.

[0035] When the water heater 10 is out of operation and no one is at home, a security mode may be set for the purpose of crime prevention during the absence of the resident. In the security mode, a user who issues a warning in the security mode is registered in advance as a second user, and if the human sensor 203 detects a person during the security mode, it is assumed that an intruder has entered the home while the resident was away, and a warning is issued to the communication terminal 400 of the second user. The second user may be the same person as the first user, or may be a different person.

[0036] The start of the security mode may be set using the kitchen remote control 100, the bathroom remote control 200, or the communication terminal 400, and a waiting time may be provided between the time the security mode is set and the time it actually activates. For example, by providing a waiting time of one hour, it is possible to prevent false alarms from being issued between the time the security mode is set and the time the person who set it leaves the house.

[0037] The same applies when the security mode is activated based on the start of the water heater 10's operation suspension. That is, an activation waiting time may be set between the setting of the water heater 10's operation suspension and the activation of the security mode. This activation waiting time may be, for example, six hours. In this way, from the start of the water heater 10's operation suspension until the activation waiting time has elapsed, regardless of the detection result of the human presence sensor 203, no warning is issued to the second user's communication terminal 400. By setting such an activation waiting time, it is possible to prevent false alarms from being issued between the setting of the water heater 10's operation suspension and the user actually leaving the home. The value of the activation waiting time may be set by the user by operating the kitchen remote control 100, the bathroom remote control 200, or the communication terminal 400. This allows the activation waiting time to be set more appropriately according to the user's wishes.

[0038] In this way, by utilizing the motion sensor 203, the monitoring mode can be used to monitor people when they are not bathing, and the crime prevention mode can be used to provide crime prevention within the home using the same system.

[0039] Various aspects of the present disclosure are summarized below as appendices.

[0040] (Appendix 1) A water heater that can supply hot water to the bathtub in the bathroom, A bathroom remote control that is placed in the bathroom and is equipped with a human sensor; a notification means for notifying a first user of a warning that has been set in advance; a control means for notifying the first user of a warning by the notification means when there is no hot water supply history for a predetermined period and there is no detection history of the human presence sensor for a predetermined period; A hot water system comprising: (Appendix 2) The hot water supply system according to claim 1, wherein the control means determines that there is no hot water supply history when the amount of hot water supplied per hour by the hot water heater is equal to or less than a predetermined value. (Appendix 3) a means for accepting a suspension of operation of the water heater; The hot water supply system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a warning is not issued to the first user during the period of suspension of operation. (Appendix 4) a means for accepting a suspension of operation of the water heater; A hot water supply system as described in any one of appendices 1 to 3, wherein if the human presence sensor detects a person during the period of operation suspension, an alert is issued to a pre-set second user. (Appendix 5) A hot water supply system as described in any one of Appendix 1 to Appendix 4, wherein, for a predetermined time after the start of the operation suspension, no warning is issued to the second user regardless of the detection result of the human presence sensor. (Appendix 6) 6. The hot water supply system according to claim 5, wherein the value of the predetermined time is set by a user. [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] 1 hot water system, 10 hot water heater, 15 control unit, 20 communication line, 40 piping, 100 kitchen remote control, 101 operation switch group, 102 display unit, 200 bathroom remote control, 201 operation switch group, 202 display unit, 203 human sensor, 400 communication terminal, 400a communication terminal, 400b communication terminal, 500 bathroom, 510 bathtub, 550 window, 600 router, 700 Internet, 800 server

Claims

1. A water heater that can supply hot water to the bathtub in the bathroom, A bathroom remote control that is placed in the bathroom and is equipped with a human sensor; a notification means for notifying a predetermined first user of a warning; a control means for notifying the first user of a warning by the notification means when there is no hot water supply history for a predetermined period and the elapsed time since the human sensor last detected entry into the bathroom exceeds a predetermined period; A hot water system comprising:

2. 2. The hot water supply system according to claim 1, wherein the control means determines that there is no hot water supply history when the amount of hot water supplied per hour by the hot water heater is equal to or less than a predetermined value.

3. a means for accepting a suspension of operation of the water heater; The hot water supply system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a warning is not issued to the first user during the period of suspension of operation.

4. a means for accepting a suspension of operation of the water heater; 3. The hot water supply system according to claim 1, wherein if the human presence sensor detects a person during the period of operation suspension, a warning is issued to a second user that has been set in advance.

5. The hot water supply system according to claim 4 , wherein a warning is not issued to the second user for a predetermined time period after the start of the operation suspension, regardless of the detection result of the human presence sensor.

6. The hot water supply system according to claim 5, wherein the value of the predetermined time period can be set by a user.

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