Information gathering device

Abstract

To provide an information collection device which can be attached to any toilet bowl and toilet seat available in market and which can collect information on excrement even about defecation at an outlet.SOLUTION: An information collection device 10 includes an information collection section 24 that collects information on excrement in a toilet bowl 1, and a housing 21 in which the information collection section 24 is provided. The information collection device 10 includes a bridge component 40 that is partially placed on the upper surface of an edge 1c of the toilet bowl 1 and bridges the inside of the edge 1c and the outside of the edge 1c by sandwiching the edge 1c, and a fixture 30 that is attached to an inner end 41 of the edge 1c of the bridge component 40 and that attaches the housing 21. The information collection device 10 includes a change mechanism that changes the distance from the end 41 to the housing 21 in the direction along the inner wall forming the inside of the edge 1c.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an information collection device and a device installation method. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a toilet seat device that includes a toilet seat disposed above a toilet bowl, an image sensor provided on the back of the toilet seat that captures an image of the interior space of the toilet bowl during excretion, and an anti-reflection unit that prevents a human body from being captured in the target image captured by the image sensor. Patent Document 1 also describes technology that works in conjunction with a seating sensor such as a load sensor that detects when a user sits on the toilet seat, and controls the image sensor to capture an image of the interior space of the toilet bowl when seating is detected. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2021 / 060212 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the toilet seat device described in Patent Document 1 is a device in which the image sensor and lighting unit for photographing excrement are fixed to the underside of the toilet seat, and depending on the spacing of the protrusions on the elastic member on the underside of the toilet seat that contact the upper surface of the toilet bowl edge, it may not be possible to attach the same image sensor and lighting unit. This is because the spacing varies depending on the type of toilet seat currently on the market, and depending on the spacing, the image sensor and lighting unit may interfere with the protrusions. Therefore, with the toilet seat device described in Patent Document 1, it was necessary to develop dedicated products for photographing excrement for each type of toilet bowl and toilet seat already on the market.

[0005] Furthermore, in order to capture excrement all the way through to the exhaust outlet, it is necessary to install the device behind the toilet. However, with the toilet seat device described in Patent Document 1, it is difficult to install it in such a position, and it is difficult to capture excrement all the way through to the exhaust outlet.

[0006] The object of the present disclosure is to provide an information collection device and a method for installing the device that can be attached to any toilet bowl and toilet seat already on the market, and that can collect information on excrement, including defecation at the outlet. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] An information collection device according to a first aspect of the present disclosure includes a seating sensor that detects when a user sits on a toilet seat placed on the upper surface of the rim of a toilet bowl, and an information collection unit that collects information about excrement on the toilet bowl. The information collection device includes a housing that houses the information collection unit and the seating sensor, and a bridging component that is partially placed on the upper surface of the rim of the toilet bowl, sandwiching the rim and bridging the inside and outside of the rim. The information collection device includes a mounting fixture that is attached to an end of the bridging component facing inward toward the rim and that attaches the housing, and a change mechanism that changes the distance from the end to the housing in a direction along an inner wall that forms the inside of the rim.

[0008] A device installation method according to a second aspect of the present disclosure includes the steps of placing a portion of a bridging component on the upper surface of the rim of a toilet bowl and sandwiching the rim with the bridging component to bridge the inside of the rim and the outside of the rim. The device installation method also includes the step of attaching a fixture to the end of the bridging component facing inward toward the rim. The device installation method also includes the step of attaching a housing to the fixture, the housing including a seating sensor that detects when a user of the toilet bowl sits on a toilet seat placed on the upper surface of the rim and an information collection unit that collects information about excrement on the toilet bowl. The device installation method also includes the step of changing the distance from the end to the housing in a direction along an inner wall that forms the inside of the rim using a change mechanism. The change mechanism is a mechanism that fixes the bridging component to the fixture and fixes the housing to the fixture. The change mechanism changes the distance by using a fixture selected from a plurality of fixtures with different lengths in a direction along the inner wall as the fixed fixture.

[0009] A device installation method according to a third aspect of the present disclosure includes the steps of placing a portion of a bridging component on the upper surface of the rim of a toilet bowl and sandwiching the rim with the bridging component to bridge the inside and outside of the rim, and attaching a mounting fixture to the end of the bridging component facing inward toward the rim. The device installation method also includes the step of attaching to the mounting fixture a housing that includes a seating sensor that detects when a user of the toilet bowl sits on a toilet seat placed on the upper surface of the rim, and an information collection unit that collects information about excrement on the toilet bowl. The device installation method also includes the step of using a change mechanism to change the distance from the end to the housing in a direction along an inner wall that forms the inside of the rim. The change mechanism is a sliding mechanism that slides the position of the housing relative to the end in a direction along the inner wall.

[0010] A device installation method according to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure includes the steps of placing a portion of a bridging component on the upper surface of the rim of a toilet bowl and sandwiching the rim with the bridging component to bridge the inside of the rim and the outside of the rim. The device installation method also includes the step of attaching a mounting fixture to the end of the bridging component facing inward toward the rim. The device installation method also includes the step of attaching to the mounting fixture a housing that includes a seating sensor that detects when a user of the toilet bowl sits on a toilet seat placed on the upper surface of the rim, and an information collection unit that collects information about excrement on the toilet bowl. The device installation method also includes the step of using a change mechanism to change the distance from the end to the housing in a direction along an inner wall that forms the inside of the rim. The change mechanism is an extension / contraction mechanism provided on the mounting fixture that extends or contracts the length in a direction along the inner wall. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] The present disclosure provides an information collection device and a device installation method that can be attached to any toilet bowl and toilet seat already on the market, and that can collect information on excrement, including defecation at the outlet. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a top view showing an example of the configuration of a toilet in which an information collection device according to a first embodiment is installed. [Figure 2] 2 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of the toilet bowl of FIG. 1 to which a lid and a water tank are added. FIG. [Figure 3] 2 is a perspective view showing an example of a fixture in the information collection device of FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 4] 2 is a side view showing an example of a fixture in the information collection device of FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing how the information collection device of FIG. 1 is installed on a toilet bowl. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing how the information collection device of FIG. 1 is installed on a toilet bowl. [Figure 7]FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing how the information collection device of FIG. 1 is installed on a toilet bowl. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing how the information collection device of FIG. 1 is installed on a toilet bowl. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a top view showing a configuration example of an information collection device according to a second embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 11 is a top view showing a configuration example of an information collection device according to a third embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a side view showing an example of the configuration of a toilet in which an information collection device according to a fourth embodiment is installed. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. In the embodiments, the same or equivalent elements may be denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted as appropriate.

[0014] <Embodiment 1> The first embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a top view showing an example of the configuration of a toilet in which an information collection device according to the first embodiment is installed, and Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of the toilet in Fig. 1 with a lid and a water tank added.

[0015] 1, the information collection device 10 according to this embodiment is installed on a toilet bowl 1 and can include a housing 21, a seating sensor 22, an information collection unit 24, a mounting fixture 30, a bridging component (bridging member) 40, and a control unit (not shown). The control unit can control the seating sensor 22 and the information collection unit 24.

[0016] The toilet bowl 1 can have an edge 1c to form a water-retaining area 1d between itself and its side, and can also have a flat surface 1b continuing from the edge 1c. A toilet seat 2 can be installed on this flat surface 1b. For example, the flat surface 1b may have an attachment portion 1e made of a recess or hole for attaching the toilet seat 2, and the toilet seat 2 may have a protrusion shaped to fit into the attachment portion 1e. Alternatively, the toilet seat 2 and the toilet bowl 1 can be attached via a rod-shaped member shaped to fit into the attachment portion 1e. As shown in Figure 2, the toilet bowl 1 may also be equipped with a water tank 1f.

[0017] The toilet seat 2 can be attached to the flat portion 1b in this manner. The toilet seat 2 can include an attachment portion 2a attached to a position corresponding to the flat portion 1b, and a toilet seat main body 2b attached to the attachment portion 2a by a hinge so that it can be brought into contact with or separated from the upper surface of the edge portion 1c of the toilet bowl 1. Furthermore, the toilet seat 2 can include a protrusion 2c attached to the back surface of the toilet seat main body 2b (the surface behind the seat). In other words, the toilet seat 2 can be installed so that it can be opened and closed when the user uses the toilet seat 2, with the protrusion 2c coming into contact with the upper surface of the edge portion 1c. Note that the toilet bowl 1 and toilet seat 2 are not limited to those shown in the figure, and their shapes are not important. Furthermore, the toilet seat 2 that can be installed on the toilet bowl 1 is not limited to one shape, and the installer can select and install it as appropriate. The protrusion 2c can be made of an elastic material such as rubber, and is sometimes referred to as a rubber foot. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2, the toilet seat 2 can include a lid portion 2f, which can be attached to the toilet seat main body 2b in an openable and closable manner.

[0018] The housing 21 is a housing in which the seating sensor 22 and the information collecting unit 24 are disposed by incorporating the entire seating sensor 22 and the information collecting unit 24 or a portion other than the sensor surface, and a mounting unit 23 that is placed on the upper surface of the edge 1c of the toilet bowl 1 can also be disposed. Because the housing 21 is a housing that is disposed inside the toilet bowl 1, it will be referred to as the inner housing 21 below. The inner housing 21 can also be provided with an illumination unit such as an LED (light emitting diode) for illuminating the excrement to be collected by the information collecting unit 24.

[0019] At least the inner housing 21, the seating sensor 22, and the information collecting unit 24 constitute a sensor box (sensor unit) 20. The sensor box 20 is equipped with the information collecting unit 24 that collects information on excrement (excretion information) of the care recipient or the like, and therefore may also be referred to as an excretion detection unit (excretion information collecting unit), a sanitary sensor (sanitary use recording sensor), or a toilet sensor. The information collecting device 10 itself may also be referred to as a sanitary sensor or a toilet sensor.

[0020] The seating sensor 22 detects when a user of the toilet bowl 1 sits on the toilet seat 2 placed on the upper surface of the edge 1c of the toilet bowl 1. The following explanation will be given assuming that the seating sensor 22 is a distance sensor, but it can also be a weight sensor placed on the placement portion 23 between the underside of the toilet seat 2 and the upper surface of the edge 1c of the toilet bowl 1, for example.

[0021] The seating sensor 22 may be a distance sensor that measures the distance to an object located in the direction of the inside of the toilet seat 2. The measurement may be performed at least when the toilet seat 2 installed on the toilet bowl 1 is placed on the upper surface of the edge 1c of the toilet bowl 1. The distance sensor may be, for example, an infrared sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, an optical sensor, or the like. When an optical sensor is used as the distance sensor, it is sufficient to position a transmitting / receiving element so that light (not limited to visible light) can be transmitted and received through a hole provided in the inner housing 21. The transmitting / receiving element here may be configured as a separate transmitting element and a receiving element, or may be integrated.

[0022] The object to be measured by the distance sensor is the user's buttocks, but of course, when the user is not using the toilet, there is no object to be measured, or it may be a distant wall or ceiling. The distance measurement method used in the distance sensor is not limited to optical distance sensors. The distance sensor can also be called a distance measurement sensor. Note that a switch that detects when the toilet seat 2 is placed on the top surface of the edge 1c by pressing it with the underside of the toilet seat 2 (or that detects this and activates the seating sensor 22) can also be provided in the inner housing 21 in which the distance sensor is disposed.

[0023] The information collecting unit 24 collects information about excrement in the toilet bowl 1. The information collecting unit 24 can be, for example, an imaging device that collects excrement details, such as the shape and color of the excrement, through an optical lens, or a distance sensor that optically measures distance. FIG. 2 shows an example in which the information collecting unit 24 is a camera disposed in the inner housing 21 facing the direction in which the excrement is excreted. The excretion information can be information indicating the excretion details, and in a simpler example, it can be information indicating whether the excrement is feces (stool) or urine (urine). The excretion information can also include other information, such as information indicating the color of the excrement and, if it is solid, its shape. The information collecting unit 24 may simply be configured to detect and collect the presence or absence of excrement as excrement information.

[0024] The information collecting unit 24 can set the area including the water-stagnation portion of the toilet bowl (excretion area) as the collection area, and this excretion area can also be referred to as the expected excretion area. By installing the information collecting unit 24 so that such excretion area is included in the imaging area, the captured imaging data will include excrement and the like as subjects. The information collecting unit 24 is disposed so that information can be collected from the accumulation portion of the toilet bowl 1 (the area where excretion is excreted) by, for example, exposing the information collecting surface of the information collecting unit 24 from an opening in the inner housing 21. The information collecting surface corresponds to, for example, the lens surface in the case of a camera, or the detection surface in the case of a sensor. Of course, it is preferable that the excretion area be an area in which the user is not reflected, and it is also preferable that the information collecting unit 24 be installed so that the lens and the like are not visible to the user.

[0025] By providing the information collecting unit 24, it is possible to collect information on the excrement excreted by the toilet user without having to ask the user. Note that the seating sensor 22 also collects information indicating the seating state, so it can also be made part of the information collecting unit.

[0026] 1 and 2 show an example in which the control unit is provided outside the sensor box 20 and connected to a cord 26 extending from the inner housing 21. The cord 26 is routed through an area of ​​the toilet seat body 2b where there are no protruding portions 2c, and is taken out to the outside of the toilet bowl 1. Note that wireless communication can also be used in place of the cord 26.

[0027] The control unit described above is connected to the seating sensor 22 and the information collecting unit 24 by wire or wireless communication, and controls the seating sensor 22 and the information collecting unit 24. This control unit can be provided in the inner housing 21, i.e., in the sensor box 20, but can also be provided in the outer housing 43 or other outer housing provided to be placed outside the toilet bowl 1.

[0028] The control unit can be realized by, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a working memory, and a non-volatile storage device storing a program. The program can be a program that causes the CPU to execute processes such as determining whether the user is sitting or standing, collecting excretion information, etc. The control unit can also be realized by, for example, an integrated circuit.

[0029] The mounting fixture 30 and the bridging component 40 are components that attach the inner housing 21 to the toilet bowl 1. The mounting fixture 30 can be made of metal, i.e., metal fittings, but the material is not important. In addition, the material of the bridging component 40 is also basically not important.

[0030] The bridging part 40 is a part that is partially placed on the upper surface of the edge 1c of the toilet bowl 1, sandwiching the edge 1c and bridging the inside and outside of the edge 1c, and can be, for example, a clamp mechanism. The mounting fixture 30 is attached to the end 41 of the bridging part 40 facing inward of the edge 1c, and is a part that mounts the inner housing 21. The inner housing 21 can be mounted to the toilet bowl 1 using the bridging part 40 and the mounting fixture 30.

[0031] The information collection device 10 according to this embodiment is equipped with a change mechanism that changes the distance along the inner wall that forms the inside of the edge 1c from the end 41 to the inner housing 21. This distance may be defined as the distance along the surface of the inner wall, whether the inner wall is curved (i.e., an oval toilet) or flat (a rectangular toilet), or as a straight-line distance.

[0032] In this embodiment, the following change mechanism will be described as an example of the change mechanism. That is, the change mechanism is a mechanism that fixes the bridging component 40 to the mounting fixture 30 and fixes the inner housing 21 to the mounting fixture 30. The change mechanism changes the distance by using a mounting fixture selected from a plurality of mounting fixtures with different lengths in the direction along the inner wall as the mounting fixture 30 to be fixed. That is, the change mechanism changes the distance by selecting a mounting fixture of a length that fits the toilet bowl 1 and toilet seat 2 from a plurality of mounting fixtures of different lengths and attaching it.

[0033] 3 and 4, an example of the mounting fixture 30 and bridging component 40 constituting the above-mentioned change mechanism applicable to the information collection device 10 will be described. Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing an example of the mounting fixture 30 and bridging component 40 in the information collection device 10 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a side view showing an example of the mounting fixture 30 and bridging component 40 in the information collection device 10.

[0034] The bridge part 40 can be a metal fitting for fixing the sensor box 20 to the edge 1c of the toilet bowl 1, and can include a tip part 41, a bridge part 42, and an outer housing 43, as shown in the upper and lower diagrams of FIG. 3. The outer housing 43 is provided with a handle (a dial-type knob 43f, described below), and by turning this handle, the edge 1c of the toilet bowl 1 is clamped and fixed. An example of a clamping mechanism for clamping will be described later with reference to FIG. 4. Furthermore, the tip part 41 is provided with a fixing part 41b for fixing the mounting fixture 30a with a screw or the like, as shown in the upper diagram of FIG. 3, and this fixing part 41b can also be used to fix mounting fixtures 30b of different lengths with a screw or the like, as shown in the lower diagram of FIG. 3.

[0035] The fixture 30 can be, for example, a plate-like or rod-like member, one end of which is attached to the tip 41 of the bridging component 40, and the other end of which is attached to the inner housing 21. The longitudinal shape of the fixture 30 can be similar to the shape of the inside of the edge 1c of the toilet bowl 1 (which is rounded in the example of FIG. 1). In other words, the fixture 30 has an extension shaped to fit the inner wall that forms the inside of the edge 1c, and the inner housing 21 can be attached to the tip of that extension.

[0036] In this embodiment, two or more mounting fixtures 30 are prepared. Here, mounting fixture 30a is described as a long type and mounting fixture 30b as a short type, but three or more types of mounting fixtures 30 can also be prepared in advance. Both mounting fixtures 30a and 30b are attachments for connecting the sensor box 20 and the bridging component 40. The installer can select either the long type mounting fixture 30a or the short type mounting fixture 30b and use the selected mounting fixture to connect the sensor box 20 and the bridging component 40.

[0037] The mounting fixture 30a is provided with fixing portions 30aa such as holes for fixing the bridging component 40 at its end portion 41, and is also provided with fixing portions 30ab such as holes for fixing the inner housing 21. On the other hand, the short type mounting fixture 30b is provided with fixing portions 30bb such as holes for simultaneously fixing the end portion 41 of the bridging component 40 and the inner housing 21.

[0038] An example of a clamp mechanism for fixing the bridge component 40 will now be described. As shown in Figure 4, the fixing clamp mechanism can include a connecting member such as a connecting plate bent into an L-shape, a sliding member 43c for clamping the edge 1c of the toilet bowl 1 between the connecting member and the tip 41, and a storage section 43d for sliding the sliding member 43c horizontally. The tip 41 and the bridge 42 can be formed by bending a connecting member such as a connecting plate into an L-shape. The tip 41 serves as a member for hooking onto the edge 1c of the toilet bowl 1. The outer housing 43 includes a housing main body 43a, which also serves as a cover to protect the fixing clamp mechanism, such as a fixing bracket. The end of the bridge 42 opposite the tip 41 is fixed to the housing main body 43a.

[0039] The fixing clamp mechanism may have one or more slide grooves 43e in the storage section 43d so that the slide member 43c can be moved horizontally between the upper and lower views of Figure 4. The fixing clamp mechanism also has a dial-type knob 43f that can rotate around the sliding direction to adjust and fix the amount of movement. By using the dial-type knob 43f, adjustment can be made simply by turning the dial with light force, without the need for tools, and attachment and detachment can be easily performed. Furthermore, using a knob with a torque limiter as the dial-type knob 43f makes it easy to confirm proper installation. However, instead of the dial-type knob 43f, an adjustment knob and a fixing member may also be provided.

[0040] Furthermore, an elastic member 43g can be provided on the toilet bowl 1 side (tip 41 side) of slide member 43c to hold edge 1c, and an elastic member 41a can be provided on the housing body 43a side of tip 41 to hold edge 1c. The shape and material of elastic members 43g and 41a need only be such that they can firmly hold edge 1c and do not slip at the contact point with edge 1c. The distance between them also needs only to be such that the maximum length expected for edge 1c can be secured when slide member 43c is fully stored in storage section 43d (as shown in the lower diagram in Figure 4).

[0041] The bridge 42 is a portion that bridges the inside and outside of the edge 1c of the toilet bowl 1 with at least a portion of the bridge 42 placed on the upper surface of the edge 1c of the toilet bowl 1 and sandwiching the edge 1c. The bridge 42 connects the tip 41 and the outer casing 43 and is placed on the upper surface of the edge 1c, and can also be called a cross section or a bridge. In this way, the bridge 40 is fixed to the edge 1c at the tip 41 and the outer casing 43 by adjusting the distance between the bridge 42 and the inside of the edge 1c and sandwiching it. This allows the bridge 40 to adapt to the width of the edge 1c.

[0042] 4 shows an example in which the mounting fixture 30 (mounting fixture 30a or 30b in this example) is fixed to the side of the tip portion 41 opposite to the housing main body 43a, but the mounting fixture 30 can also be fixed between the tip portion 41 and the elastic member 41a. In other words, the tip portion 41 should have a structure that allows the mounting fixture 30 to which the inner housing 21 is attached to be attached.

[0043] This allows the inner housing 21 of the information collection device 10 to be reliably fixed and installed regardless of the shape of the toilet bowl 1, such as the shape of the rim 1c. Note that, although an example has been given in which the main components of the fixing clamp mechanism are provided on the outer housing 43, the shape and components of the fixing clamp mechanism are not important as long as it is a mechanism that can achieve such fixing. Also, while Figure 4 shows an example in which a C-clamp is used as the fixing clamp mechanism, it is not limited to this.

[0044] Furthermore, by employing such a fixing clamp mechanism, the mechanism is small and has fewer grooves, making it easier to wipe clean and reducing cleaning time. In addition, it is desirable that the fixing clamp mechanism be made of metal except for elastic members 43g and 41a in terms of strength, but for example, storage section 43d and / or slide member 43c can be made of other materials such as resin.

[0045] As can be seen from the above description, the information collection device 10, mainly the inner housing 21, can be attached to and detached from the toilet bowl 1 by rotating the dial knob 43f clockwise and counterclockwise. During attachment, the attachment fixture 30 is attached to the tip 41, and from the state shown in the lower diagram of FIG. 4, the tip 41 (actually the elastic member 41a) of the bridge 42 is hooked onto the edge 1c of the toilet bowl 1, and then the dial knob 43f is rotated counterclockwise to secure the device. This allows the device to be installed with the distance between the slide member 43c and the tip 41 reduced, as shown in the upper diagram of FIG. 4. The attachment of the attachment fixture 30 to the inner housing 21 may be performed prior to this, or may be performed after the device has been fixed by the rotation described above. During removal, the dial knob 43f is rotated clockwise to release the lock, releasing the structure from its fixed position and enabling removal, as shown in the lower diagram of FIG. 4. Using a torque limiter as the dial knob 43f in particular makes it easy to confirm correct installation during attachment and detachment.

[0046] As described above, by providing such a fixing clamp mechanism, the information collection device 10 can be easily installed and removed from a wide variety of toilets 1 available on the market without using tools or replacing the toilet bowl with a dedicated one. Furthermore, by turning the dial knob 43f, the toilet bowl 1 and the sensor box 20 can be easily attached and removed with a large force, even when only a small force is required for the opening and closing operation. Furthermore, there is no need to add a new device series for each type of toilet, allowing the device vendor to reduce its management costs. Furthermore, by providing such a fixing clamp mechanism, the information collection device 10 can be easily removed and reinstalled, for example, when cleaning the toilet bowl 1. Furthermore, by providing such a fixing clamp mechanism, the information collection device 10 can be easily removed and reinstalled even by cleaning personnel wearing gloves, improving the efficiency of cleaning work.

[0047] Also, some toilets have handrails on the sides of the toilet bowl, but the information collection device 10 can be installed in these types of toilets without the need to particularly thin the width of the outer housing 43. Also, for example, a separate control box equipped with the control unit can be placed on the rear side of the toilet bowl 1, so the parts attached to the toilet bowl 1 do not need to be particularly thin to be installed.

[0048] Furthermore, examples of bridging component 40 are not limited to this, and may be, for example, a clamp mechanism installed between the side surface of toilet 1 and the part corresponding to outer casing 43. This clamp mechanism can be a mechanism that abuts against the side surface of toilet 1 and the surface of the part corresponding to outer casing 43 on the toilet 1 side, and adjusts the length between them.

[0049] Next, an example of a method for attaching the information collection device 10 using the mounting fixture 30 and the bridging component 40 will be described with reference to Figures 5 to 8. Figures 5 to 8 are perspective views showing how the information collection device 10 is installed on the toilet 1.

[0050] The device installation method according to this embodiment includes the following bridging step, first installation step, second installation step, and modification step.

[0051] The bridging step involves placing a portion of the bridging component 40 on the upper surface of the edge 1c of the toilet bowl 1 and sandwiching the edge 1c with the bridging component 40 to bridge the inside of the edge 1c and the outside of the edge 1c. The first attachment step involves attaching the mounting fixture 30 to the end 41 of the bridging component 40 on the inside of the edge 1c. The second attachment step involves attaching the inner housing 21, in which the seating sensor 22 and the information collecting unit 24 are arranged, to the mounting fixture 30. The change step involves using the change mechanism described above (i.e., by selecting the mounting fixture 30 to be used) to change the distance from the end 41 to the inner housing 21 in the direction along the inner wall that forms the inside of the edge 1c.

[0052] The order of these steps is not important, except that, in the final installation, the modification step is performed before the first installation step and before the second installation step, which may not be performed if the appropriate fixture 30 was originally selected.

[0053] A specific example of the order of these steps will now be described. First, as shown in Figure 5, with the sensor box 20 and bridging part 40 fixed with the mounting fixture 30a, the bridging part 40 is attached to the toilet bowl 1 so that the sensor box 20 is aligned with the rear position inside the toilet bowl 1 (see the white arrow in Figure 5). Next, as shown in Figure 6, after attachment, the handle (dial knob 43f) of the bridging part 40 is turned to narrow the usable width of the bridging part 42, thereby clamping and fixing the edge 1c of the toilet bowl 1.

[0054] 7, if the protrusion 2c of the toilet seat 2 interferes with the bridge part 40 when attaching the sensor box 20 to the toilet bowl 1, the sensor box 20 cannot be attached because there is a risk of damaging the toilet seat and the bridge part 40. It is possible to attach the bridge part 40 by shifting it, but if it is shifted by more than 2 cm, for example, the sensor box 20 will move out of its optimal fixed position, making it impossible to accurately detect excrement.

[0055] To avoid this, as shown in Figure 8, mounting fixture 30b is used instead of mounting fixture 30a, and is attached to the inner housing 21 and bridge component 40. This makes it possible to fix the sensor box 20 in an optimal position without interfering with the protrusion 2c of the toilet seat 2.

[0056] In this way, by using a structure in which the sensor box 20 and the bridge part 40 are connected by a selected one of the mounting fixtures 30a, 30b, the sensor box 20 can be mounted in an accurate position without interfering with the protrusion 1c (rubber foot part) of the toilet seat 1. In this way, the sensor box 20 can be installed in an optimal position (a position where information on excrement up to the defecation at the outlet can be collected), enabling accurate excrement detection and seating detection. Furthermore, by making the mounting fixture 30 used changeable, it can be used with a wide variety of toilet seats from major manufacturers on the market.

[0057] As described above, the information collection device 10 according to this embodiment can be attached to any toilet bowl and toilet seat already in circulation, and can collect information on excrement, even about defecation at the outlet. That is, the information collection device 10 according to this embodiment has a structure that allows attachment while adjusting the distance regardless of the shape of the toilet bowl 1, and therefore the sensor box 20 can be installed in the optimal position for toilet bowls of various shapes. For example, according to this embodiment, the sensor box 20 can be installed in the optimal position regardless of the toilet environment in the home of a person requiring care. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the sensor box 20 can be installed in the optimal position for toilet bowls of various shapes without needing to increase the number of different types of information collection devices, and the management costs and manufacturing costs of the information collection device 10 can be reduced.

[0058] 1, the mounting fixture 30 can be a component that mounts the inner housing 21 so that it is positioned inside the edge 1c and vertically below the toilet seat 2 when the toilet seat 2 is placed on the top surface of the edge 1c. In other words, the mounting fixture 30 and the bridging component 40 allow the inner housing 21 to be mounted so that the entire inner housing 21, or at least the seating sensor 22, is positioned inside the edge 1c and in the shadow of the toilet seat 2 placed on the top surface of the edge 1c, when viewed from above. The mounting fixture 30 and the bridging component 40 have a shape that allows such mounting of the inner housing 21. Note that the shape of the inner housing 21 is not important in this example, but in this example, the shape is set to at least maintain the above-described positional relationship with the toilet seat 2 in combination with the mounting fixture 30 and the bridging component 40.

[0059] By adopting such an arrangement, the seating sensor 22 and the information collecting unit 24 are positioned in a position hidden by the toilet seat 2, and in particular the sensor face is positioned in a position hidden by the toilet seat 2, which makes it easy to clean the sensor face of the seating sensor 22 which is positioned facing upward. Furthermore, even in such an arrangement, it is advantageous because the distance can be changed by the change mechanism to accommodate various combinations of toilet bowls and toilet seats, for example.

[0060] Furthermore, this embodiment can be suitably used in the fields of healthcare and medical care, where structures equipped with detection functions for excrement, sitting, etc. may be placed on toilet bowls.

[0061] <Embodiment 2> The second embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 9, focusing on differences from the first embodiment, but various examples described in the first embodiment can also be applied. Fig. 9 is a top view showing an example of the configuration of an information collection device according to the second embodiment.

[0062] The change mechanism in this embodiment is a slide mechanism that slides the position of inner housing 21 relative to end portion 41 in a direction along the inner wall that forms the inside of edge portion 1c. As shown by the difference between the upper and lower views of FIG. 9 , this slide mechanism can be a mechanism that can slide the position of inner housing 21 relative to end portion 41 by, for example, insertably and removably passing attachment 31 (corresponding to attachment 30) through end portion 41. Alternatively, although not shown, this slide mechanism can also be a mechanism that slides inner housing 21 relative to attachment 31. Furthermore, by configuring the slide mechanism to be able to be locked at multiple positions, it is easy to fix the position of sensor box 20, and positional deviation of sensor box 20 after installation is unlikely to occur, preventing a decrease in detection accuracy.

[0063] The device installation method according to this embodiment includes the following bridging step, first installation step, second installation step, and modification step. The order of these steps does not matter.

[0064] The bridging step places a portion of the bridging component 40 on the upper surface of the edge 1c of the toilet bowl 1, and sandwiches the edge 1c with the bridging component 40, thereby bridging the inside of the edge 1c with the outside of the edge 1c. In the first attachment step, the mounting fixture 31 is attached to the end 41 of the bridging component 40 facing inward from the edge 1c. In the second attachment step, the inner housing 21, in which the seating sensor 22 and the information collecting unit 24 are arranged, is attached to the mounting fixture 31. In the changing step, a slide mechanism is used to change the distance from the end 41 to the inner housing 21 in the direction along the inner wall that forms the inside of the edge 1c.

[0065] This embodiment can also be applied to replacing the fixtures described in embodiment 1. For example, if multiple fixtures 31 of different lengths are prepared, they can be installed at an appropriate length by adjusting the length and sliding amount of the fixtures 31.

[0066] <Embodiment 3> The third embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 10, focusing on the differences from the first embodiment, but various examples described in the first and second embodiments can also be applied. Fig. 10 is a top view showing an example of the configuration of an information collection device according to the third embodiment.

[0067] The change mechanism in this embodiment is an extension / contraction mechanism provided in the fixture 32. This extension / contraction mechanism is a mechanism that extends or contracts the length in the direction along the inner wall that forms the inside of the edge portion 1c. As shown by the difference between the upper and lower views of FIG. 10, this extension / contraction mechanism configures the fixture 32 (an extension / contraction version of the fixture 30) using two members 32a and 32b, and is extended or contracted by changing the position of member 32b relative to member 32a. For example, member 32b may be configured as a cylinder, and member 32a may be configured as a cylinder with a smaller diameter than member 32b, so that member 32a can be inserted into member 32b. This allows the length of the fixture 32 to be changed by changing the length to which member 32a is inserted into member 32b.

[0068] Of course, the shape of the members 32a and 32b is not limited to a cylindrical shape, and any shape that can be extended or contracted as the mounting fixture 32 is acceptable. The mounting fixture 32 can also be made up of three or more members. Furthermore, by configuring the extension mechanism so that it can be locked at multiple positions, it becomes easy to fix the position of the sensor box 20, and the sensor box 20 is less likely to shift position after installation, without reducing detection accuracy.

[0069] The device installation method according to this embodiment includes the following bridging step, first installation step, second installation step, and modification step. The order of these steps does not matter.

[0070] The bridging step places a portion of the bridging component 40 on the upper surface of the edge 1c of the toilet bowl 1, and sandwiches the edge 1c with the bridging component 40, thereby bridging the inside of the edge 1c with the outside of the edge 1c. In the first attachment step, the mounting fixture 32 is attached to the end 41 of the bridging component 40 facing inward from the edge 1c. In the second attachment step, the inner housing 21, in which the seating sensor 22 and the information collecting unit 24 are arranged, is attached to the mounting fixture 32. In the changing step, the extension mechanism is used to change the distance from the end 41 to the inner housing 21 in the direction along the inner wall that forms the inside of the edge 1c.

[0071] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the replacement of the mounting fixture described in embodiment 1 can also be applied. For example, if multiple mounting fixtures 32 with different maximum lengths and / or minimum lengths are prepared, the mounting fixtures 32 can be set to an appropriate length depending on their length and extension amount. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the slide mechanism described in embodiment 2 can also be applied. For example, if a slide mechanism is also provided, the mounting fixtures 32 can be set to an appropriate length depending on their length and extension amount.

[0072] <Embodiment 4> The fourth embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 11, focusing on the differences from the first embodiment, but the various examples described in the first to third embodiments can also be applied. Fig. 11 is a side view showing an example of the configuration of a toilet bowl in which an information collection device according to the fourth embodiment is installed.

[0073] The information collection device according to this embodiment (hereinafter referred to as the present device) is the information collection device according to embodiment 1, which is equipped with a function to identify users, allowing the collected excretion information to be managed for each user.

[0074] As shown in Figure 11, this device is installed on the toilet bowl 1 or distributed outside it, with a sensor box 20 attached to the edge 1c of the toilet bowl 1 by a mounting fixture 30 and a bridging component 40. This device can further include a control box 60 equipped with a control unit 61 as the control unit described above, and a human detection / identification box 70 equipped with an imaging device 71 and a human sensor 72. Note that Figure 11 shows an example in which the toilet seat 2 does not have a lid.

[0075] Imaging device 71 is a device that captures an image of the face of a toilet user, and can be, for example, a camera that captures still and / or video images. Furthermore, imaging device 71 is not limited to a visible light camera, and can also be an infrared camera, etc. Imaging device 71 can, for example, have a lens exposed from human detection / identification box 70 so that it can capture an image of the face of a toilet user, but it is sufficient if it can capture an image of the face.

[0076] The human presence sensor 72 can be provided to determine the timing for activating the imaging device 71 or capturing an image. The human presence sensor 72 is a sensor that detects the presence of a person (a person entering or leaving) in a specific area (the measurement area range of the human presence sensor 72), and can employ any detection method, such as an infrared sensor, ultrasonic sensor, or optical sensor. The human presence sensor 72 can have its detection surface exposed from the human detection / identification box 70 so that it can detect toilet users, but it need only be able to detect a person.

[0077] The information collecting unit 24 in the sensor box 20 can be a camera, and the imaging device 71 can also be a camera, and they will be referred to as the first camera 24 and the second camera 71, respectively, in the following description.

[0078] The control box 60 can be a storage housing (part of the outer housing) that houses the control unit 61, and can be connected to the sensor box 20 by a cable K1 (cord 26) and placed on the side of the side surface 1a of the toilet bowl 1, for example.

[0079] The control unit 61 controls the seating sensor 22 and first camera 24 in the sensor box 20, and the second camera 71 and human presence sensor 72 in the human detection / identification box 70. For example, the control unit 61 can receive the detection result from the human presence sensor 72, instruct the second camera 71 to capture an image and receive the captured image, and instruct the first camera 24 to collect information about excrement and receive the collected information. Although the seating sensor 22, first camera 24, human presence sensor 72, and second camera 71 are connected to the control unit 61 by wire in the example shown, they can also be connected by wireless communication. The control box 60 can also be equipped with a CPU for analyzing information from each sensor and a communication unit such as a WiFi (registered trademark; the same applies below) interface for communicating with a server (not shown).

[0080] The human detection / identification box 70 can be provided as a separate housing arranged outside the outer housing, connected to the control unit 61 of the control box 60 by a cable K2, and placed on the wall W of the toilet (the wall in front when the toilet door is open). Of course, the shapes and placement of the control box 60 and human detection / identification box 70 are not limited to those shown in Figure 11, and for example, the control box 60 can also be placed behind the toilet bowl 1.

[0081] This device can be used in conjunction with a wirelessly connected server (not shown). This system can also include a terminal device (not shown) wirelessly connected to the server and owned by a person monitoring toilet users. These connections can be made, for example, within a single wireless local area network (LAN). In this system, the device, server, and terminal device work together to record excrement, present (notify, etc.) excrement information to the terminal device, and predict excretion. Recording, presentation, prediction, etc. can be achieved in any configuration, and a detailed description will be omitted here. However, this device can function as a toilet-mounted recording, notification, and excretion prediction system, or as a device responsible for collecting information, and can also be called a toilet sensor. This device can also be called a defecation and urination observation device, and if it also stores information, it can be called a defecation and urination observation and recording device.

[0082] When the human presence sensor 72 detects a person in a specific area, it transmits the detection result to the control unit 61. This detection result can be transmitted to a server by the control unit 61 via a WiFi interface. Furthermore, the control unit 61 can receive this detection result and issue an instruction to the second camera 71 to take a photograph.

[0083] The second camera 71 is an example of a camera that captures a facial image of the user to obtain facial image data in order to identify the user of the toilet, and can be installed so that the user's face is included in the imaging range. The control unit 61 can also instruct the seating sensor 22 to take measurements after receiving the result of human detection by the human presence sensor 72, or the result of having the server authenticate the user by capturing an image of the face, etc.

[0084] The seating sensor 22 measures the distance to an object (the buttocks of the user of the toilet bowl 1) either based on an instruction from the control unit 61 or constantly. The control unit 61 obtains the measurement result and detects that the object has sat on the toilet seat when a certain time has passed since the measurement exceeded a threshold value. Furthermore, if the distance to the object changes after sitting, it detects that the user has left the toilet seat. The control unit 61 can control the first camera 24 to take an image when it detects that the user has sat down, and to end the image capture when it detects that the user has left the seat.

[0085] The first camera 24 is an example of a camera that captures images of excrement and transmits the captured image data to the control unit 61, and is installed so that the image capture range includes the excrement excretion range on the toilet bowl 1. Note that by installing the human detection / identification box 70 in a location that is directly in front of the user when they sit down, it is possible to capture an image of the user's face after they sit down instead of before they sit down, in which case the human presence sensor 72 can be omitted.

[0086] The control box 60 may also be equipped with a Bluetooth (registered trademark; the same applies hereinafter) module. The Bluetooth module is an example of a receiver that receives identification data for identifying a user from a Bluetooth tag held by the user, and may be replaced with a module based on other short-range communication standards. The Bluetooth tag held by the user may have a different ID for each user, and may be embedded in a wristband or the like so that the user can carry it.

[0087] The above-mentioned WiFi interface is an example of a communication unit (communication device) that transmits various acquired data to the server, and can be replaced with a module that employs other communication standards. The facial image data acquired by the second camera 71 and the identification data acquired by the Bluetooth module can be transmitted to the server by the control unit 61 via the WiFi interface. Furthermore, when the control unit 61 detects that the user is seated, it can also notify the server or the terminal device of the monitor who monitors the user via the WiFi interface. This allows the monitor to be notified that the user has used the restroom, and can prompt the monitor to go to the restroom if necessary.

[0088] The control unit 61 and the server obtain excretion information based on the imaging data captured by the first camera 24. In this case, the server can be responsible for the main process of obtaining the excretion information from the imaging data. For example, the server inputs the imaging data into a trained model to obtain the excretion information. Then, the server obtains, as at least a part of the excretion information, information indicating whether the imaging data includes any foreign matter, which is an object other than feces and urine, as a subject other than the toilet bowl and its cleaning liquid.

[0089] The server receives the facial image data acquired by the second camera 71 via the WiFi interface, compares the facial image data with pre-stored authentication data, for example, by comparing its feature points, and obtains identification data associated with the matching authentication data. In this way, the server can obtain identification data (identification data that identifies the user), that is, identify the user.

[0090] The server can then obtain from the device, along with the imaging data, facial image data of the user of the toilet 1 at the time the imaging data was acquired. Therefore, the server can identify the user based on the facial image data and manage excretion information for each user in an internal storage device. The server can also generate presentation information for each user. This facial recognition process allows the most similar user to be identified as the current toilet user. In this way, the above-mentioned identification data can be used to identify the user by performing facial recognition processing based on facial image data captured by the second camera 71 in the toilet 1 or the room in which the toilet 1 is installed (the toilet stall). It is preferable not to store the facial image data captured by the second camera 71 for privacy reasons.

[0091] The terminal device can then output the presentation information for each user. Furthermore, if the server predetermines one or more presentation recipients for each user (for example, a supervisor in charge if the user is a care recipient), it can output the presentation information to the terminal device used by the presentation recipient. Examples of supervisors include caregivers and, in some cases, doctors, but they can also be caregivers other than caregivers. Furthermore, depending on the application environment of this system, the supervisor may be someone other than a caregiver.

[0092] Furthermore, the server receives the identification data (personal authentication data) obtained by the Bluetooth module via the WiFi interface and compares it with pre-stored identification data for authentication to perform user authentication. For example, if a caregiver carrying his own Bluetooth tag and a care recipient carrying his own Bluetooth tag enter the bathroom together, the server can select the latter as the user. In this way, the server can obtain the identification data (identification data that identifies the user), that is, identify the user.

[0093] The server can obtain from the device, along with the imaging data, identification data that identifies the user of the toilet 1 at the time the imaging data was acquired, and can manage excretion information for each user in an internal storage device based on the identification data. The server can also generate presentation information for each user. The terminal device can then output the presentation information for each user. Furthermore, if the server predetermines one or more presentation recipients for each user, it can output the presentation information to the terminal device used by the presentation recipients.

[0094] In this example, the user is identified from two types of data, face image data and identification data, and it can be said that the system has two identification functions, but it is of course possible to identify the user using either one. For example, this system can be equipped with both identification functions and one of them can be selected during operation. Alternatively, this system can be equipped with only one of the identification functions.

[0095] <Other embodiments> In each embodiment, the information collection device, the toilet bowl, and the server (server device) equipped with the information collection device, as well as the method of using the information collection device and the server device, are described, but are not limited to the examples. For example, the shape of each component of the information collection device, toilet bowl, and toilet seat, and the positional relationship between the components may be any as long as the components can perform their functions except for the positional relationships specifically mentioned. Also, the method of installing the information collection device may include, for example, adding other steps.

[0096] The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and may be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. In addition, the present disclosure may be implemented by appropriately combining the respective embodiments. [Explanation of symbols]

[0097] 1 toilet 1a side 1b Plane part 1c edge 1d Water retention area 1e Mounting part 1F Water Tank 2 toilet seats 2a Mounting part 2b Toilet seat body 2c Convex part 2f Lid 10. Information collection device (excretion information collection device) 20 Sensor box (sensor unit) 21 Housing (inner housing) 22 Distance Sensor 23 Placement section 24 Information Gathering Unit (1st Camera) 26 Code 30, 30a, 30b, 31, 32 Mounting fixtures 30aa, 30ab, 30bb fixed part 32a, 32b members 40 Bridge parts 41 Tip 41a, 43g Elastic member 42 Bridge section 43 Outer housing 43a Housing body 43c Slide member 43d Storage area 43e Slide groove 43f Dial Knob 60 Control Box 61 Control Unit 70 Human detection / identification box 71 Imaging device (second camera) 72 Human Sensor K1, K2 cables

Claims

1. an information collecting unit that collects information about excrement in the toilet; a housing in which the information collecting unit is disposed; a bridging part that is partially placed on the upper surface of the edge of the toilet bowl to sandwich the edge and bridge the inside and outside of the edge; a mounting fixture attached to an inner end of the edge portion of the bridge component and for mounting the housing; a change mechanism for changing the distance from the end to the housing in a direction along an inner wall that forms the inside of the edge portion; Equipped with the change mechanism is a mechanism that fixes the bridge component and the mounting fixture, and fixes the housing and the mounting fixture, and changes the distance by using a mounting fixture selected from a plurality of mounting fixtures that have different lengths in the direction along the inner wall as the mounting fixture to be fixed. Information gathering device.

2. an information collecting unit that collects information about excrement in the toilet; a housing in which the information collecting unit is disposed; a bridging part that is partially placed on the upper surface of the edge of the toilet bowl to sandwich the edge and bridge the inside and outside of the edge; a mounting fixture attached to an inner end of the edge portion of the bridge component and for mounting the housing; a change mechanism for changing the distance from the end to the housing in a direction along an inner wall that forms the inside of the edge portion; Equipped with the change mechanism includes a slide mechanism that slides the position of the housing relative to the end portion in a direction along the inner wall. Information gathering device.

3. an information collecting unit that collects information about excrement in the toilet; a housing in which the information collecting unit is disposed; a bridging part that is partially placed on the upper surface of the edge of the toilet bowl to sandwich the edge and bridge the inside and outside of the edge; a mounting fixture attached to an inner end of the edge portion of the bridge component and for mounting the housing; a change mechanism for changing the distance from the end to the housing in a direction along an inner wall that forms the inside of the edge portion; Equipped with the change mechanism is an extension / contraction mechanism provided in the mounting fixture and configured to extend or contract the length in a direction along the inner wall, the telescopic mechanism has a first cylindrical member and a second cylindrical member having a smaller diameter than the first cylindrical member, and is telescopic depending on the length by which the second cylindrical member is inserted into the first cylindrical member; Information gathering device.

4. the mounting fixture is a jig that mounts the housing so that it is positioned inside the edge portion and vertically below the toilet seat when the toilet seat is placed on the upper surface of the edge portion. The information collection device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. a control unit that controls the information collection unit; an outer housing to be placed outside the toilet bowl and accommodating the control unit; Furthermore, The information collection device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

Images