Toilet bowl and toilet seat

Abstract

To provide an excrement image detection device capable of storing an excrement image photographed with a camera in a safety environment and safely taking out the image.SOLUTION: An excrement image detection device 1 comprises: a camera 12a for photographing the inside of a toilet bowl; a storage part 13a for storing an excrement image obtained by photographing with the camera 12a; a short distance communication part 16A connected with a mobile terminal 70 by a short distance radio signal; and an image control part 11 capable of outputting the excrement image stored by the storage part 13a to the mobile terminal 70 via the short distance communication part 16A.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to image detection of excrement in a toilet using a camera. Toilet bowl and toilet seat It relates to.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, various toilet devices equipped with a camera for photographing urine and feces discharged into the toilet have been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Such a toilet device is likely to be effectively used for health observation based on the photographed image of excrement and the properties obtained by analyzing the image.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To achieve the above object, the Toilet equipment ​​​​​​​​​​The toilet includes a camera that photographs the inside of a toilet bowl, an analysis unit that generates excrement analysis information based on the excrement image captured by the camera, a storage unit that stores the excrement image and / or excrement analysis information, a short-range communication unit to which a mobile terminal communicates directly using a short-range wireless signal, an image control unit that enables outputting the excrement image and / or excrement analysis information stored in the storage unit to the mobile terminal via the short-range communication unit, an identification information registration unit that stores the personal identification information of a specific user who is scheduled to use the toilet, and a user identification unit that determines that the personal identification information input from the mobile terminal connected to the short-range communication unit is the personal identification information of the specific user when the personal identification information is held in the identification information registration unit, and the image control unit is characterized in that, when the user identification unit determines that the user is the specific user, it retrieves the excrement image and / or excrement analysis information associated with the personal identification information from the storage unit and sends it to the mobile terminal via the short-range communication unit.

[0007] Furthermore, the present invention Toilet equipment The aforementioned individual identification The system includes an operating unit having a user-defined call button that can link information, and by operating the user-defined call button, the excrement image and / or excrement analysis information is linked to the personal identification information and stored in the storage unit. If the user identification unit determines that the information is personal identification information of the specified user, it may retrieve past excrement images and / or excrement analysis information from the storage unit and send it to the mobile terminal. When an import request operation is performed on the operation screen of the mobile terminal, the excrement image or excrement analysis information stored in the storage unit may be imported into the mobile terminal. A human presence sensor may be provided, and when a person is detected by the human presence sensor, the short-range communication unit may transmit a connection signal to the mobile terminal that triggers the execution of a personal authentication protocol. The excrement analysis information may be stored in the storage unit in association with the excrement image. The image control unit may delete excrement images and / or excrement analysis information that have been stored in the storage unit for a predetermined number of days. Furthermore, the toilet seat device of the present invention is a toilet seat device that can be retrofitted to a toilet bowl, comprising: a camera that photographs the inside of the toilet bowl; an analysis unit that generates excrement analysis information based on the excrement image captured by the camera; a storage unit that stores the excrement image and / or excrement analysis information; a short-range communication unit to which a mobile terminal communicates directly using short-range wireless signals; an image control unit that enables outputting the excrement image and / or excrement analysis information stored in the storage unit to the mobile terminal via the short-range communication unit; and a specific user who is scheduled to use the toilet bowl. The device comprises an identification information registration unit that stores personal identification information, and a user identification unit that determines that personal identification information input from a mobile terminal connected to the short-range communication unit is the personal identification information of the specified user when such personal identification information is held in the identification information registration unit, and the image control unit, when the user identification unit determines that the user is the specified user, retrieves the excrement image and / or excrement analysis information associated with the personal identification information from the storage unit and sends it to the mobile terminal via the short-range communication unit. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] Because the present invention has the configuration described above, images of excrement captured by the camera can be safely stored inside the toilet device, and the images of excrement can be safely retrieved. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is a basic block diagram of a toilet device, which is an example of a waste image detection device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of the toilet device. [Figure 3] Figures (a) and (b) show two examples of camera installation positions in the toilet device, with (a) being a schematic plan view and (b) being a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view. [Figure 4] (a) is a front view of the control panel of the toilet unit, and (b) is a schematic diagram of the control screen of a mobile device. [Figure 5] This diagram shows the basic operation flow of the toilet device and the mobile terminal. [Figure 6] This is a basic block diagram of a toilet device, which is an example of a waste image detection device according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] This diagram shows the basic operation flow of the toilet device. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The excrement image detection devices 1 and 1A according to the embodiments shown in Figures 1 and 6 both incorporate a configuration for detecting excrement images into the toilet device 1 and 1A. The excrement image detection devices 1 and 1A may be retrofitted to the toilet device.

[0011] First, the basic configuration of the excrement image detection device 1 according to the first embodiment will be explained with reference to Figures 1 to 5.

[0012] The excrement image detection device 1 includes a camera 12a that photographs the inside of the toilet bowl, a storage unit 13a that stores the excrement images photographed by the camera 12a, and a short-range communication unit 16A to which the mobile terminal 70 is connected by a short-range wireless signal. Further, the excrement image detection device 1 includes an image control unit 11 that can output the excrement images stored in the storage unit 13a to the mobile terminal 70 via the short-range communication unit 16A.

[0013] Note that the excrement image detection device (toilet device) 1 according to the present embodiment can connect a mobile terminal 70 equipped with a dedicated program 70A corresponding to the toilet device 1, as will be described later. This dedicated program 70A enables various settings and operations for the toilet device 1. Thus, the toilet device 1 constitutes an excrement image detection system 100 by cooperating with the mobile terminal 70 equipped with the dedicated program 70A. Next, the detailed configuration of the toilet device 1 will be described.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 1, the toilet device 1 includes a CPU (processor) 10 that forms the core of computer processing. The CPU 10 controls the execution of various programs and controls and monitors the operations of the following units together with the programs.

[0015] As constituent units of the toilet device 1, there are an image control unit 11, a photographing unit 12, an operation unit 14, a user identification unit 15, a short-range communication unit 16A, an analysis unit 17, a storage unit 13, a long-range communication unit 18, a toilet bowl cleaning unit 20, a local cleaning unit 21, a human presence sensor 22, a seating sensor 23, and the like.

[0016] Note that not all controls need to be performed by one CPU 10. For example, one CPU may control the toilet body (operation unit 12, short-range communication unit 16A, long-range communication unit 18, toilet bowl cleaning unit 21, local cleaning unit 20, human presence sensor 22, seating sensor 23). And another CPU may control the excrement image detection (image control unit 11, photographing unit 12, storage unit 13, user identification unit 15, analysis unit 17). Thus, a plurality of CPUs may be coordinated to perform overall control.

[0017] The imaging unit 12 includes a camera 12a and a control circuit (not shown) that controls the imaging of the camera 12a. The control circuit is configured to control the electronic shutter to open at intervals of 20 to 240 times per second, preferably 20 to 120 times per second, with respect to a light receiving element (not shown) for imaging.

[0018] The operation unit 14 includes operation switches for performing cleaning operations and various settings, etc., and they are arranged on the remote control panel 50, the rear part of the toilet device main body, etc. The remote control panel 50 will be described later in the description of FIG. 4.

[0019] The user identification unit 15 is a component that identifies whether the portable terminal 70 is allowed to extract the excrement image. In this embodiment, the user identification unit 15 determines whether the personal identification information of the portable terminal 70 attempting to extract the excrement image has been registered in the identification information registration unit 13b, and if it is allowed, it identifies the appropriate user.

[0020] The short-range communication unit 16A in this embodiment is a communication unit for transmitting and receiving with a portable terminal 70 such as a smartphone by short-range wireless signals. The excrement image captured by the camera 12a and stored in the storage unit 13a is transmitted to the portable terminal 70 via the short-range communication unit 16A and stored in the memory in the portable terminal 70.

[0021] As short-range wireless communication, for example, infrared rays, Bluetooth (registered trademark), Wi-Fi, etc. are assumed, and the short-range communication unit 16A and the portable terminal 70 perform direct communication without passing through a repeater. As the short range, it is preferably within 1.2 m such that the signal does not reach outside the toilet room, and when multiple toilet rooms are adjacent like in a public toilet, it is preferably within 0.6 m.

[0022] The analysis unit 17 generates excrement analysis information based on the excrement image captured by the camera 12a.

[0023] The memory unit 13 includes at least a storage unit 13a that stores information related to excrement, such as images of excrement and information on analysis of excrement, and an identification information registration unit 13b that registers personal identification information and the like for the user identification unit 15 to identify the user.

[0024] The long-distance communication unit 18 is a communication unit for transmitting excrement analysis information to the management server 75 via a communication network 5 such as the Internet.

[0025] Next, the toilet bowl flushing unit 20, other parts of the internal and external structure of the toilet bowl, and the local flushing unit 21 will be explained with reference to Figure 2.

[0026] The toilet unit 1 is a seated Western-style toilet unit that is fixed to the floor 3 or walls within the toilet space. The toilet body 30 of this toilet unit 1 has a bowl 32 that opens upwards and is enclosed in a skirt portion 31. Above the bowl 32 are a toilet seat 33 and a toilet lid 34 that are foldable relative to the opening surface of the bowl 32 and have the same axis of rotation.

[0027] The internal space of the skirt portion 31 houses the mechanism of the toilet bowl flushing unit 20, which supplies flushing water from the water inlet 35 into the bowl 32 and flushes the inside of the bowl 32. This mechanism includes a water supply mechanism and a drainage mechanism.

[0028] The water supply mechanism includes a water inlet 35, a cleaning water supply passage 36 that supplies cleaning water from a water pipe (not shown) into the bowl 32 through the water inlet 35, and a water supply valve 37 located in the middle of the cleaning water supply passage 36 that supplies or shuts off cleaning water to the bowl 32.

[0029] The drainage mechanism of the toilet device 1 according to this embodiment has a structure with a movable trap 38. This trap 38 is rotated by a drive mechanism 40 to form a drainage state or a water seal state. In the illustrated example, the trap 38 is in the water seal state position, and in the drainage state, the drain port 39 on the open end side of the trap 38 rotates so that it faces the outlet 41. The trap 38 is surrounded by a trap case 42 to prevent wastewater and odors from leaking to the outside. Alternatively, the drainage mechanism may be a siphon type, siphon jet type, siphon vortex type, washdown type, etc.

[0030] Furthermore, although the diagram shows an example where the toilet unit 1 is a tankless type that is directly connected to the water supply and does not have a flush tank (low tank), it may also be configured to include a flush tank.

[0031] The aforementioned camera 12a can be positioned, for example, in or near the cavity of the rim 43 (see Figure 2) on the underside of the toilet seat 33, as shown in Figure 3(a), so that it can photograph the feces 7 excreted in the bottom of the bowl 32. Alternatively, as shown in Figure 3(b), the camera 12a may be embedded in the rear wall of the bowl 32, thereby photographing the falling feces 7 or urine. In addition to the camera 12a, the bowl 32 may also be equipped with odor sensors, radio wave sensors, etc., to detect various excrement analysis information.

[0032] Furthermore, the local cleaning unit 21 has a nozzle (not shown) near the shaft of the toilet seat 33 that can be extended and retracted toward the center of the bowl 32, and water is discharged from the nozzle, allowing the local parts of the human body to be cleaned with the discharged water.

[0033] The motion sensor 22 is a sensor that detects the presence or absence of a person in the toilet room, and can detect the timing of entry / exit by detecting changes in the signal state. The seating sensor 23 is a sensor that detects when a person sits on or leaves the toilet seat 33, and can detect the timing of sitting / leaving by detecting changes in the signal state. Furthermore, by detecting the timing of leaving the seat, the bowl 32 can be automatically flushed.

[0034] Next, the details of the remote control panel 50 of the control unit 14 will be explained with reference to Figure 4(a). The diagram shown in Figure 4(a) is a remote control panel 50 that is installed on the wall of a toilet room, and is connected to the toilet unit body by infrared signals, etc.

[0035] The remote control panel 50 includes a flush switch 51 for defecation, a flush switch 52 for urination, a toilet seat open / close switch 53, a toilet lid open / close switch 54, and an on / off switch 55 for the flushing sound that masks the sound of defecation.

[0036] The remote control panel 50 also includes a switch 56 for setting the volume of the water shut-off sound, a switch 57 for setting the temperature of the hot water and drying water for the toilet seat and bidet, and a switch 58 for setting the width of the bidet's wash.

[0037] The volume setting switch 56 has "-" and "+" buttons. By operating these buttons, the volume can be adjusted in three stages while viewing the indicator lamp 56a. The temperature setting switch 57 has a toilet seat temperature setting button, a hot water setting button, and a drying temperature setting button. By continuously operating each button, the temperature can be set in three stages while viewing the indicator lamp 57a. The bidet width setting switch 58 has "narrow" and "wide" buttons. By operating these buttons, the width can be set in five stages while viewing the indicator lamp 58a.

[0038] These settings can be changed each time a user enters the toilet room. In particular, the settings can be registered for each person who is scheduled to use this toilet device 1 (for example, a family member) by operating the user setting registration button 59 and linking it to the user setting call button 60. In other words, a specific user who has set up user settings can switch to their own settings by operating the user setting call button 60 to which their settings are linked.

[0039] In this embodiment, user settings can also be configured by operating the application 70A on a mobile terminal 70 equipped with a dedicated program (application) 70A for this toilet device 1. Settings for the toilet device 1 using the mobile terminal 70 can be made via the short-range communication unit 16A or via the long-range communication unit 18. During this configuration, personal identification information of the mobile terminal 70 (for example, a mobile phone number or a user ID for application 70A) can be associated with the numbers of the user setting call buttons 60 (four buttons in the illustrated example).

[0040] As described later, the setting change for the toilet device 1 using the mobile terminal 70 is performed automatically when a specific user enters the toilet room with the mobile terminal 70. Alternatively, the application 70A may be operated to associate the personal identification information of the mobile terminal 70 with the numbers of the user setting call buttons 60 (four buttons in the illustrated example). In this case, the short-range communication unit 16 may be used, or the long-range communication unit 18 may be used.

[0041] In this way, the user who is scheduled to use the toilet device 1 is designated as a specific user, and not only can they configure user settings, but they can also switch settings (recall their own settings), and may also be able to receive notifications about cleaning timing, set the water level for defecation mode, etc.

[0042] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 4(b), a portion of the operation screen 71 of the application 70A on the mobile terminal 70 includes an import request button 71a for importing images of excrement to the mobile terminal 70, and a date and time specification input section 71b for specifying the date and time range for the request. Alternatively, an operation switch corresponding to Figure 4(b) may be provided on the operation section 14 on the toilet device 1 to enable image transmission.

[0043] Next, the process of photographing excrement with camera 12a and saving the excrement images to the mobile terminal 70 will be explained according to steps S101 to S116 of the flowchart in Figure 5. The image control unit 11 controls the saving, retrieval, and transmission of these excrement images. As will be explained below, in this embodiment, the specific user described in Figure 4 can retrieve the excrement images to the mobile terminal 70.

[0044] First, when a person enters the toilet room and the motion sensor 22 detects the entrant, the camera 12a starts taking pictures of the inside of the bowl 32 (S101, S102). Continuous shooting continues at the aforementioned shooting intervals until the motion sensor 22 detects the person leaving the room (S103~S105). The continuously captured images of the excrement are sequentially saved in the storage unit 13a along with the date and time.

[0045] Furthermore, once entry into the room is detected, a personal authentication protocol is executed between the entrant's mobile terminal 70 and the system as soon as filming begins. Specifically, a connection signal, which is a wireless signal, is transmitted to the mobile terminal 70 via the short-range communication unit 16A (S106). When the mobile terminal 70 receives the connection signal, the application 70A dedicated to this toilet device, which is installed on the mobile terminal 70, is activated, and the application 70A on the mobile terminal 70 transmits an approval signal and personal identification information to the toilet device 1 (S107-S109). For example, a communication protocol such as a beacon can be used as the personal authentication procedure.

[0046] The toilet device 1 receives an approval signal and personal identification information via the short-range communication unit 16. The toilet device 1 checks whether the received personal identification information is registered in the identification information registration unit 13b, and if it is registered, it determines that the owner of the mobile terminal 70 is a specific user who is scheduled to use the toilet device 1 (S110).

[0047] Furthermore, if the person entering the room does not have a mobile device 70, or if they have one but the app 70A is not installed, a retry transmission of the connection signal will be performed until the exit is detected, but no approval signal will be returned, and therefore the subsequent personal authentication process will not be performed. Similarly, even if the mobile device 70 has the app 70A installed, if personal identification information is not registered in the identification information registration unit 13b, the personal authentication process will not be performed.

[0048] If a user is identified as a specific user during the personal authentication process, images taken from entry to exit are sequentially stored in the storage unit 13a, linked to personal identification information.

[0049] Furthermore, instead of the timing of entry and exit detected by the motion sensor 22, the camera 12a may start recording inside the bowl 32 when the seating sensor 23 turns on and stop when it turns off. Alternatively, a recording start / stop switch may be provided on the control unit 14 or the application 70A on the mobile terminal 70 to allow the recording timing to be specified.

[0050] If the person entering the room is determined to be a specific user during the personal authentication process, the user settings will switch to those of the specific user, and thereafter the person entering the room will be able to use the toilet device 1 as the specific user (S111).

[0051] Subsequently, if the person entering the room defecates, the analysis unit 17 generates excrement analysis information based on the excrement image, and this information is also stored in the storage unit 13a, corresponding to the personal identification information. The excrement analysis information may also include information generated based on information detected by odor sensors and radio wave sensors.

[0052] Excretion analysis information includes characteristics and volume for stool (7), and volume and urination time for urine (7). For stool (7), it is desirable to detect samples classified according to the Bristol Stool Physiological Classification (hard stool, firm stool, slightly hard stool, normal stool, slightly soft stool, muddy stool, watery stool). Stool volume, urine volume, and urination time can be calculated from excretion images and the number of images. In addition, analysis information obtained from detection data by odor sensors and radio wave sensors may also be included in the excretion analysis information.

[0053] This excrement analysis information is stored in conjunction with personal identification information and then transmitted to the management server 75 via the long-distance communication unit 18 when the person leaves the room, as detected by the motion sensor 22 (S104, S116). Also, once the person leaves the room, the camera 12a stops recording, as described above (S105).

[0054] Then, if a person whose excrement images have been saved in this way needs those excrement images, they can enter the room, undergo personal authentication using the mobile terminal 70, and then import the excrement images into the mobile terminal 70. For example, a person who has blood in their stool detected during a health checkup can, on any day after the health checkup, retrieve images of their excrement from the morning of the health checkup, or images of their excrement from around the day of the bowel movement, into the mobile terminal 70.

[0055] In this embodiment, upon entering the room, personal authentication is performed using the mobile terminal 70 (S101, S106-S111). The entrant then operates the capture request button 71a on the operation screen 71 of the application 70A on the mobile terminal 70, thereby capturing images of excrement corresponding to the entrant's own personal identification information, which are stored in the storage unit 13a of the toilet device 1 (S112-S115). By specifying the date and time in the date and time specification input unit 71b on the operation screen 71, multiple consecutive images over a desired period can be captured.

[0056] As described above, if the person entering the toilet room is a specific user and needs images of their excrement, they can import their own images into the mobile terminal 70. Furthermore, with the toilet device 1 of this embodiment, regardless of whether or not images of excrement need to be imported, images of excrement from entry to exit can be stored in the storage unit 13a, linked to the entrant's personal identification information.

[0057] Furthermore, if personal authentication is performed, in addition to an entrant with the purpose of obtaining images of excrement taking the images of excrement to the mobile terminal 70, an entrant in the act of defecation can also obtain images of the excrement from that act, as well as past images of excrement, from the storage unit 13a to the mobile terminal 70.

[0058] Because the toilet device 1 has the above configuration, images of excrement linked to personal identification information are transmitted to the mobile terminal 70 of a user who has been identified as a specific user based on the personal identification information contained in that mobile terminal 70. Therefore, images of excrement that are sensitive to privacy can be handled safely in the vicinity of the toilet device 1. In other words, there is no risk of the images of excrement being retrieved by others or disseminated through public networks without the user's permission.

[0059] In particular, since this toilet device 1 transmits images of excrement using short-range wireless signals, the possibility of images leaking to the outside during retrieval is low, making it safe from a privacy protection standpoint. For example, if short-range wireless communication within 1.2m is used, there is virtually no risk of image data leaking outside the toilet room.

[0060] Alternatively, the excrement analysis information may also be sent to the mobile terminal 70, and both the excrement image and the excrement analysis information may be sent from the mobile terminal 70 to the management server 75.

[0061] figure 5 The processing flow described above is just one example, and other flows are also acceptable. At a minimum, it is sufficient that a user identified as a specific user can retrieve images of excrement linked to the personal identification information on their mobile device 70.

[0062] Furthermore, considering the risk that the images of excrement may be deleted from either the toilet device 1 or the mobile terminal 70, it is desirable that they remain in the storage unit 13a and not be deleted when they are sent to the mobile terminal 70. However, in order to avoid the information related to privacy (images of excrement) remaining in the toilet device 1 for a long period of time, it is desirable that they be deleted after a predetermined number of days, for example, one week, has elapsed since being sent to the mobile terminal 70.

[0063] Alternatively, the system may be configured to delete the excrement information from the storage unit 13a at the time the motion sensor 22 detects the user leaving the room, or shortly thereafter.

[0064] In this way, information related to excrement, such as excrement analysis information and excrement images, is transmitted to the management server 75, allowing users to entrust their health management to a medical institution or other organization operating the management server 75 while remaining at home.

[0065] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the specific user who can capture images of excrement on the mobile terminal 70 is the same user (see Figure 4) assigned to the user setting call button 60 on the remote control panel 50. Therefore, when the connection with the mobile terminal 70 is approved upon entering the room, the user settings can be automatically switched to the user's own settings without any special operation.

[0066] For designated users, the settings are automatically switched when entering the toilet room as long as they have the mobile terminal 70 with the app 70A installed, eliminating the need to operate the remote control panel 50 to switch user settings. In other words, it eliminates the conventional mistakes caused by forgetting to switch user settings or forgetting the number of the user setting call button 60.

[0067] Furthermore, if a specific user assigned to the user-configured call button 60 enters the toilet room without their mobile device 70, personal authentication will naturally not be performed because they do not possess the mobile device 70. However, by operating their own user-configured call button 60, that specific user can link images from entry to exit to their own personal identification information. Therefore, images of excrement taken upon entry can then be retrieved and identified as belonging to that user.

[0068] Next, the excrement image detection device 1A according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 6 and 7.

[0069] The excrement image detection device 1A includes a camera 12a for photographing the inside of a toilet bowl, a storage unit 13a for storing the excrement images taken by the camera 12a, and a direct connection unit 16B to which an external storage medium 72 is connected. Furthermore, the excrement image detection device 1A includes an image control unit 11 that enables outputting the excrement images stored in the storage unit 13a to the external storage medium 72 via the direct connection unit 16B.

[0070] As shown in Figure 1, the toilet unit 1A is equipped with a processor (CPU) 10, which forms the core of the computer processing. The CPU 10 controls the execution of various programs and controls and monitors the operation of the following parts together with the programs.

[0071] The toilet device 1A comprises the following components: an image control unit 11, a shooting unit 12, an operation unit 14, a user identification unit 15, a direct connection unit 16B, an analysis unit 17, a storage unit 13, a long-distance communication unit 18, a toilet flushing unit 20, a local flushing unit 21, a human presence sensor 22, a seating sensor 23, and the like.

[0072] The imaging unit 12 includes a camera 12a and a control circuit (not shown) that controls the imaging of the camera 12a. The control circuit is configured to take images by controlling the electronic shutter to open at intervals of 20 to 90 times per second in relation to a light-receiving element (not shown).

[0073] The control unit 14 is equipped with a remote control panel 50 similar to that in Figure 4, and also includes a password input unit 14a for entering a password to output the excrement image to the external storage medium 72. The control unit 14 is also equipped with operation switches for performing washing operations and various settings.

[0074] The user identification unit 15 is a component that identifies whether or not the person is authorized to retrieve images of excrement, and identifies the appropriate user when the person entering the room operates the user setting call button 60 and enters the correct password corresponding to it.

[0075] In this embodiment, a USB memory stick 72 is exemplified as the external storage medium 72, and the direct connection section 16B is a USB connection section 16B for connecting the USB memory stick 72 or a connector having a USB interface. The excrement images can be saved to the external storage medium (USB memory stick) 72.

[0076] The analysis unit 17 generates excrement analysis information based on the excrement image captured by the camera 12a.

[0077] The memory unit 13 includes a storage unit 13a where information related to excrement, such as images of excrement and analysis information of excrement, is stored in a manner linked to the individual, and an identification information registration unit 13b where the user identification unit 15 registers passwords and personal identification information to identify the user.

[0078] The long-distance communication unit 18 is a communication unit for transmitting images of excrement and excrement analysis information to the management server 75 via a communication network 5 such as the Internet.

[0079] The toilet bowl flushing unit 20, the local flushing unit 21, the motion sensor 22, the seat sensor 23, and the internal mechanical structure of the toilet bowl device 1A are the same as those in Figure 1, so their explanation is omitted.

[0080] Next, the process of capturing images of excrement by camera 12a and saving the excrement images to an external storage medium 72 will be explained according to steps S201 to S209 of the flowchart in Figure 7. These controls related to the excrement images are performed by the image control unit 11.

[0081] First, when a person enters the toilet room and the motion sensor 22 detects the entrant, the camera 12a begins taking pictures of the inside of the bowl 32 (S201, S202). Continuous shooting continues at the aforementioned shooting intervals until the motion sensor 22 detects the person leaving the room (S203~S205). The continuously captured images of the excrement are sequentially saved in the storage unit 13a along with the date and time.

[0082] In this embodiment as well, the camera 12a may start taking pictures inside the bowl 32 when the seating sensor 23 is turned on and stop when it is turned off, instead of when the human presence sensor 22 detects entry and exit.

[0083] If the person entering the room is a specific user assigned to the user-configured call button 60, they can link images from their entry to exit to their personal identification information by operating their own user-configured call button 60 (S206).

[0084] Furthermore, the analysis unit 17 generates excrement analysis information based on the excrement image, and this information is also stored in the storage unit 13a. The excrement analysis information may also include information generated based on information detected by odor sensors and radio wave sensors. This excrement analysis information is transmitted to the management server 75 (S209).

[0085] Then, if an image of excrement is needed, the user enters the room with a USB memory stick 72, and if the entrant is a specific user assigned to the user-configured call button 60, they operate their own user-configured call button 60 (S206). When retrieving an image of excrement to the USB memory stick 72, if the entrant is a specific user, they connect the USB memory stick 72 to the USB connection unit 16B and are identified as a specific user by performing a special operation such as long-pressing the user-configured call button 60 and entering the corresponding correct password. This special operation is for requesting an image, and by performing this operation, the image of excrement is retrieved from the storage unit 13a using the personal identification information assigned to the user-configured call button 60 and sent to the USB memory stick 72 (S207, S208).

[0086] Alternatively, the excrement analysis information may be stored on a USB memory stick 72 and sent to the management server 75 via a communication terminal (not shown) such as a personal computer, along with the excrement image. The detailed contents of the excrement analysis information are the same as those in Figure 1, and therefore the explanation is omitted.

[0087] As described above, using this toilet device 1A, images of excrement can be retrieved to a USB memory 72 in association with the personal identification information of a specific user linked to the user-configured call button 60.

[0088] Furthermore, regardless of whether the person entering the room is a designated user or not, operating the user settings call button 60 will switch the user settings, but it will not link and save personal identification information to the excrement images, nor will it extract the excrement images to a USB memory stick. This is to prevent the images from being disseminated.

[0089] Furthermore, the control unit 14 may be equipped with an image transmission switch or the like, allowing entrants who are not specific users to import images from entry to exit that are not linked to personal identification information into the USB memory 72. Such images of excrement that are not linked to personal identification information will not be retrieved once the entrant has left the room, and there is no risk of the images being leaked.

[0090] Thus, in this embodiment as well, it is not possible to retrieve past images of excrement unrelated to the person entering the room that are stored in the storage unit 13a, thereby preventing the leakage of information other than that of the person entering the room. Even if it were to be leaked, it would not pose a major problem because no personal identification information is associated with the images of excrement.

[0091] Similar to the example in Figure 1, it is desirable to keep the excrement image in the storage unit 13a even after it has been sent to the USB memory 72, and to temporarily store it redundantly in both the toilet device 1A and the USB memory 72.

[0092] The above examples show configurations for sending excrement images to a mobile terminal 70 and to an external storage medium 72. However, the system may also have both a short-range communication unit 16A and a direct connection unit 16B, and may be connected to either the mobile terminal 70 or the external storage medium 72. For example, in the operation screen of the application 70A in Figure 4(b), image capture requests can be made separately for the mobile terminal 70 and the external storage medium 72.

[0093] With this configuration, images of excrement linked to personal identification information can be saved to either the mobile terminal 70, the external storage medium 72, or both, further improving usability.

[0094] Furthermore, although the toilet unit 1 and 1A were shown above as examples of excrement image detection devices 1 and 1A, the excrement image detection device may also be an excrement image detection device that can be retrofitted to a toilet unit or a toilet seat unit that can be retrofitted to the toilet unit. In addition, the excrement image detection device may be a toilet seat unit that incorporates the image transmission function included in the toilet unit 1 and 1A. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0095] 1.1A Excrement Image Detection Device (Toilet Device) 5. Communication Network 10 CPU 11 Image Control Unit 12 Photography Department 12a Camera 13 Storage section 13a Storage section 13b Identification Information Registration Section 14 Control section 14a Password input section 15 User Identification Unit 16A Near field communication section 16B Direct connection section (USB connection section) 17 Analysis Department 18. Long-distance communications department 20 Toilet flushing section 21 Local Cleansing Section 22 motion sensors 23. Seat occupancy sensor 70 Mobile devices 70A Toilet System Dedicated Program, Dedicated Program, App 71 Operation screen 71a Import Request Button 71b Date and time input section 72. External storage media (USB memory) 75 Management Server

Claims

1. A camera that films inside the toilet bowl, An analysis unit that generates excrement analysis information based on images of excrement captured by the camera, A storage unit for storing the aforementioned excrement images and / or excrement analysis information, A short-range communication unit to which a mobile device communicates and connects directly using short-range wireless signals, An image control unit that enables outputting images of excrement and / or excrement analysis information stored in the storage unit to the mobile terminal via the short-range communication unit, An identification information registration unit that stores the personal identification information of a specific user whose toilet is scheduled to be used, The system includes a user identification unit that determines, when personal identification information input from the mobile terminal connected to the short-range communication unit is held in the identification information registration unit, that the personal identification information is the personal identification information of the specified user. The toilet device is characterized in that, when the user identification unit determines that the user is a specific user, the image control unit retrieves the excrement image and / or excrement analysis information linked to the personal identification information from the storage unit and sends it to the mobile terminal via the short-range communication unit.

2. In claim 1, The system includes an operation unit having a user setting call button that can be linked to the aforementioned personal identification information, By operating the user setting call button, the excrement image and / or excrement analysis information is linked to the personal identification information and stored in the storage unit. The toilet device is characterized in that, if the user identification unit determines that the information is the personal identification information of the specified user, it retrieves past excrement images and / or excrement analysis information from the storage unit and sends it to the mobile terminal.

3. In claim 1 or claim 2, A toilet device characterized in that when an import request operation is performed on the operation screen of the mobile terminal, the excrement image or the excrement analysis information stored in the storage unit is imported into the mobile terminal.

4. In claim 1 or claim 2, Equipped with a human motion sensor, A toilet device characterized in that when a person is detected by the motion sensor, the short-range communication unit transmits a connection signal to the mobile terminal that triggers the execution of a personal authentication protocol.

5. In any one of claims 1 to 4, The excrement analysis information is linked to the excrement image and stored in the storage unit. The toilet device is characterized in that the short-range communication unit performs direct communication within a range where the signal does not reach outside the toilet room in which the toilet is installed.

6. In any one of claims 1 to 5, The toilet device is characterized in that the image control unit deletes excrement images and / or excrement analysis information that have been stored in the storage unit for a predetermined number of days.

7. A toilet seat device that can be retrofitted to a toilet bowl, A camera for photographing the inside of the toilet bowl, An analysis unit that generates excrement analysis information based on images of excrement captured by the camera, A storage unit for storing the aforementioned excrement images and / or excrement analysis information, A short-range communication unit to which a mobile device communicates and connects directly using short-range wireless signals, An image control unit that enables outputting images of excrement and / or excrement analysis information stored in the storage unit to the mobile terminal via the short-range communication unit, An identification information registration unit that stores the personal identification information of a specific user whose toilet is scheduled to be used, The system includes a user identification unit that determines, when personal identification information input from the mobile terminal connected to the short-range communication unit is held in the identification information registration unit, that the personal identification information is the personal identification information of the specified user. The toilet seat device is characterized in that, when the image control unit determines that the user identification unit is a specific user, it retrieves an image of excrement and / or excrement analysis information linked to the personal identification information from the storage unit and sends it to the mobile terminal via the short-range communication unit.

Images