Toilet bowl device

Abstract

Provided is a toilet bowl device capable of correctly detecting the seating state of a user. In the toilet bowl device, a control unit determines, on the basis of the signal strength and the detection distance to a user detected by a radio wave sensor, whether a user is in a seating state (C1, D1) of being about to be seated on a toilet seat or of being seated on a toilet seat. When the detection distance coincides with a seating distance (L1) and the signal strength is equal to or greater than a seating threshold value (X1), the control unit determines that the seating state (C1, D1) has taken effect. In the case when the detection distance coincides with the seating distance (L1) and the signal strength is equal to or greater than a human sensing threshold value (Y1) after the control unit determines that the seating state (C1, D1) has taken effect, the control unit maintains the determination that the seating state (C1, D1) has taken effect.

Description

Toilet equipment

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a toilet apparatus, and more particularly to a toilet apparatus that detects a human body such as an entry or a seated person.

[0002] Conventionally, there is a toilet device that is provided with a human detector using a wireless signal to detect user actions such as entering and exiting the toilet room and control the discharge of flush water, etc. (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] The human detector includes a Doppler sensor (radio wave sensor) and a signal processor. The Doppler sensor transmits radio waves of a predetermined frequency into a detection range, receives the radio waves reflected from objects moving within the detection range, and outputs a sensor signal of a Doppler frequency corresponding to the difference in frequency between the transmitted and received radio waves. The signal processor detects the user's movement by comparing the sensor signal with a threshold value.

[0004] Patent No. 6176336

[0005] The human detector described in Patent Document 1 uses a Doppler sensor to detect the distance to the user, and determines that the user is seated when the distance between the user and the toilet device becomes short.

[0006] On the other hand, there are also radio wave sensors that determine the user's status (e.g., whether they are seated or not) based on signal strength. However, in such cases, if the user remains motionless for a while after sitting down, the signal strength of the radio waves weakens. As a result, even if the user is seated, the sensor may determine that the user is not detected (i.e., a false positive occurs, indicating that the user is seated).

[0007] The present disclosure has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a toilet apparatus that can correctly detect the seated state of a user.

[0008] A toilet apparatus according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a toilet body, a toilet seat, a radio wave sensor, and a determination unit. The toilet seat is placed on the toilet body. The radio wave sensor is configured to set a seating threshold and a human presence threshold lower than the seating threshold for the detected signal strength. The determination unit determines whether the user is in a seated state, i.e., about to sit on or sit on the toilet seat, based on the detected distance to the user detected by the radio wave sensor and the signal strength. The determination unit determines the seated state when the detected distance is the seating distance and the signal strength is equal to or greater than the seating threshold. After determining the seated state, the determination unit maintains the determination of the seated state when the detected distance is the seating distance and the signal strength is equal to or greater than the human presence threshold.

[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the exterior of a toilet apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the control configuration of the toilet apparatus. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a radio wave sensor of the toilet apparatus. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the judgment and control operation of the control unit of the toilet apparatus. FIG. 5 is a graph showing changes in signal strength and detection distance over time in a first example of a user's behavior from sitting down to leaving the seat. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a user in a seated-away state (positioned away from the toilet within the toilet apparatus space). FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a user transitioning from a seated-away state to a seated state. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a user in a seated state. FIG. 9 is a graph showing changes in signal strength over time in a second example of a user's behavior from sitting down to leaving the seat. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a user in a seated-away state.

[0010] (Embodiments) A toilet device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Note that the configurations described in the following embodiments are merely examples of the present disclosure. The present disclosure is not limited to the following embodiments, and various modifications are possible depending on the design, etc., as long as the effects of the present disclosure can be achieved.

[0011] (First embodiment) (1) Basic configuration of the toilet device A toilet device 1 according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described using Figures 1 and 2. In this embodiment, the space in which the toilet device 1 is arranged is referred to as an internal toilet space SP1 (toilet device space), and the space outside the internal toilet space SP1 is referred to as an external toilet space SP2 (Figure 6).

[0012] The toilet device 1 mainly includes a toilet body 2 and a toilet seat device 3 .

[0013] The toilet body 2 is a Western-style toilet having a concave bowl portion 7 and a rim 8 formed around the periphery of the bowl portion 7.

[0014] The toilet seat device 3 is installed on the upper surface of the rim 8 of the toilet bowl body 2. The toilet seat device 3 includes a toilet seat body 10 placed on the upper rear surface of the rim 8, and a toilet seat 11 and a toilet lid 12 rotatably supported on the toilet seat body 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the toilet seat body 10 incorporates a flushing device 21, a private parts washing device 22, an opening / closing device 23, and a lighting control device 24. The flushing device 21 supplies water to the bowl portion 7 and drains water from the bowl portion 7. The private parts washing device 22 has a cleaning nozzle 26 (FIG. 1) that protrudes into the bowl portion 7 and cleans the private parts of the user P1 (FIG. 6). Water for private parts washing is sprayed from the cleaning nozzle 26. The opening / closing device 23 controls the opening and closing of the toilet seat 11 (described below) and the toilet lid 12 (described below). The lighting control device 24 controls the on / off of lighting fixtures (not shown) in the toilet interior space SP1. The toilet seat 11 and the toilet lid 12 are configured to be freely opened and closed by an opening and closing device 23 using a motor or the like on the upper surface side of the toilet body 2.

[0015] A remote control operator 13 is installed on a wall surface of the toilet space SP1, and the remote control operator 13 is provided with operation switches for operating the flushing device 21, the private parts cleansing device 22, and the opening / closing device 23, and transmits operation signals such as infrared signals in response to the operation of the operation switches. A receiving unit (not shown) for receiving the operation signals transmitted from the remote control operator 13 is provided on the toilet seat body 10 of the toilet seat device 3.

[0016] (2) Radio Wave Sensor (2-1) Overview of the Radio Wave Sensor The toilet bowl apparatus 1 further includes a radio wave sensor 5. As shown in Fig. 1, the radio wave sensor 5 is provided in the toilet seat body 10 of the toilet seat apparatus 3. More specifically, the radio wave sensor 5 is provided in the front part of the interior of the toilet seat body 10.

[0017] The radio wave sensor 5 is a Doppler sensor that transmits high-frequency radio waves, such as microwaves or millimeter waves, toward a detection range, receives the reflected waves from objects moving within the detection range, and outputs a sensor signal (detection signal) with a Doppler frequency corresponding to the difference in frequency between the transmitted and received radio waves. The sensor signal is an analog time-domain signal corresponding to the movement of the object. Note that when a user P1 moves within the detection range, the frequency of the reflected wave shifts due to the Doppler effect. The detection targets are the presence or absence, status, and actions (entering, leaving, sitting, leaving, etc.) of the user P1 in the toilet space SP1.

[0018] (2-2) Details of the Radio Wave Sensor As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the radio wave sensor 5 includes a sensor unit 15 and a signal processing unit 16.

[0019] The sensor unit 15 includes a transmitter 31, a transmission control unit 32, and a receiver 33. The transmitter 31 generates a sine wave signal, for example, in the 24 GHz band, and transmits radio waves toward the detection range (so that the beam faces forward as viewed from the toilet device 1) via a transmitting antenna (not shown). The transmission control unit 32 controls the frequency and transmission timing of the radio waves transmitted by the transmitter 31. The receiver 33 receives radio waves reflected by objects within the detection range via a receiving antenna (not shown) and outputs a sensor signal with a frequency corresponding to the difference in frequency between the transmitted and received radio waves. The generated sensor signal contains many frequency components corresponding to the moving speed of the human body that reflected the microwaves; the frequency increases when the moving speed is high and decreases when the moving speed is low.

[0020] The signal processing unit 16 processes the sensor signal output from the sensor unit 15. The signal processing unit 16 has an amplifier unit 35 and an A / D converter unit 36. The amplifier unit 35 amplifies the sensor signal. The A / D converter unit 36 ​​converts the amplified sensor signal into a digital sensor signal and outputs it.

[0021] The signal processing unit 16 further includes a frequency analysis unit 37. The frequency analysis unit 37 calculates the signal strength (Doppler signal amplitude strength).

[0022] The signal processing unit 16 further includes a distance measuring unit 38. The distance measuring unit 38 calculates the distance from the sensor unit 15 to the user P1 based on the signal that has been subjected to frequency analysis processing.

[0023] (3) Control Unit (3-1) Basic Functions of the Control Unit As shown in Figure 2, the toilet apparatus 1 further has a control unit 17 (determination unit). The control unit 17 includes a computer system having one or more processors and a memory. The functions of the control unit 17 are realized by the processor of the computer system executing a program recorded in the memory of the computer system. The program may be recorded in the memory, or may be provided via a telecommunications line such as the Internet, or may be recorded on a non-transitory recording medium such as a memory card and provided.

[0024] The control unit 17 controls the operations of the flushing device 21, the local cleaning device 22, and the opening / closing device 23 in response to operation signals from the remote control operation device 13. Furthermore, the control unit 17 controls the operations of the flushing device 21, the local cleaning device 22, the opening / closing device 23, and the lighting control device 24 based on detection signals (signal strength and distance information) output from the radio wave sensor 5.

[0025] (3-2) State Determination Function of the Control Unit The control unit 17 has a state determination function for determining the state of the user P1. The states of the user P1 are an unattended state A1, an unattended state B1, a first seated state C1, and a second seated state D1.

[0026] The unmanned state A1 is a state in which the user P1 is not present in the toilet space SP1.

[0027] The off-seat state B1 is a state in which the user P1 is in the toilet space SP1 (is present) but is not sitting on the toilet seat 11.

[0028] The first seated state C1 is a state in which the user P1 is in the process of sitting on the toilet seat 11.

[0029] The second seated state D1 is a state in which the user P1 is sitting on the toilet seat 11.

[0030] The control unit 17 determines the state of the user P1 based on the signal strength as basic information. Note that the control unit 17 sets a seating threshold X1 and a human presence threshold Y1 lower than the seating threshold X1 as thresholds related to the signal strength, as shown in FIG.

[0031] (3-3) Control Operation for Determining User's State The control unit 17 determines the state of the user P1 using the sensor signal (signal strength and detection distance) transmitted from the signal processing unit 16 of the radio wave sensor 5. Since the state of the user P1 is determined in this way using the detection distance as well, the state of the user P1 can be determined more accurately.

[0032] The state determination control operation of the control unit 17 for the user P1 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0033] The control flowcharts described below are merely examples, and steps can be omitted or replaced as necessary. Furthermore, multiple steps can be executed simultaneously, or some or all of the steps can be executed in an overlapping manner.

[0034] Furthermore, each block in the control flowchart is not limited to a single control operation, but can be replaced with a plurality of control operations represented by a plurality of blocks.

[0035] The operation of each device is the result of commands from the control unit to each device, and these are expressed by each step of the software application.

[0036] In the following description, a first example of a series of actions by user P1 will be explained as appropriate using Figures 5 to 8, and a second example of a series of actions by user P1 will be explained as appropriate using Figures 9 and 10. In both examples, user P1 enters (enters) from outside-toilet space SP2 into inside-toilet space SP1, approaches the toilet apparatus 1 within inside-toilet space SP1, sits on the toilet seat 11, leaves the toilet seat 11, leaves the toilet apparatus 1 within inside-toilet space SP1, and exits (exits) from inside-toilet space SP1 into outside-toilet space SP2.

[0037] In step S1 of FIG. 4, it is determined whether the signal strength is equal to or greater than the human presence threshold Y1. If the signal strength is equal to or greater than the human presence threshold Y1, the process proceeds to step S2. If the signal strength is less than the human presence threshold Y1, the process proceeds to step S12. In step S12, the control unit 17 determines that the state of user P1 is unattended state A1 (user P1 is not in the toilet interior space SP1: corresponding to A1 in FIG. 5). That is, the control unit 17 determines that the state is unattended state A1 when the signal strength is less than the human presence threshold Y1. If the state is unattended state A1, the control unit 17 controls the flushing device 21 to lower the water level in the bowl 7 (or maintain it at a low water level), the lighting control device 24 to turn off the lighting fixtures in the toilet interior space SP1 (or maintain it in an unattended state), and the opening / closing device 23 to close the toilet seat 11 and toilet lid 12 (or maintain it in a closed state). Furthermore, the control unit 17 stops the operation of the local cleaning device 22 (or keeps it stopped).

[0038] In step S2, the control unit 17 determines that the user P1 is in the away-from-seat state B1 (as shown in FIG. 6, the user P1 is in the toilet space SP1: corresponding to B1 in FIG. 5). If the user P1 is in the away-from-seat state B1, the control unit 17 controls the lighting control device 24 to turn on the lights in the toilet space SP1, and controls the opening / closing device 23 to open the toilet lid 12 or the toilet seat 11 and toilet lid 12.

[0039] Subsequently, in the next steps S3, S4 and S5, the control unit 17 determines whether or not the seated state is the first seated state C1 based on the detection distance and signal strength detected by the radio wave sensor 5.

[0040] In step S3, it is determined whether the detected distance is the seating distance L1. If the detected distance exceeds the seating distance L1, the process returns to step S1. If the detected distance becomes the seating distance L1, the process proceeds to step S4. Note that the seating distance L1 is set as the distance between the sensor unit 15 and the user P1 when the user P1 is sitting on the toilet seat 11, as shown in FIG. 8. Note that the seating distance L1 may have a predetermined range.

[0041] In step S4, it is determined whether the signal strength is equal to or greater than the seating threshold X1. If the signal strength is less than the seating threshold X1, the process returns to step S1. If the signal strength is equal to or greater than the seating threshold X1, the process proceeds to step S5.

[0042] In step S5, the control unit 17 determines that the state of the user P1 is the first seating state C1 (corresponding to FIG. 7). That is, the control unit 17 determines that the state of the user P1 is the first seating state C1 when the detection distance is the seating distance L1 and the signal strength is equal to or greater than the seating threshold X1.

[0043] In step S6, it is determined whether the signal strength is equal to or greater than the human presence threshold Y1 after a predetermined time has elapsed. If the signal strength is equal to or greater than the human presence threshold Y1, the process proceeds to step S7. If the signal strength is less than the human presence threshold Y1, the process returns to step S5.

[0044] In step S7, the control unit 17 determines that the state of the user P1 is the second seated state D1 (corresponding to FIG. 8).

[0045] In step S8, it is determined whether the detected distance is the seating distance L1. If the detected distance exceeds the seating distance L1, the process proceeds to step S11. If the detected distance is the seating distance L1, the process proceeds to step S9.

[0046] In step S9, it is determined whether the signal strength is less than the human presence threshold Y1. If the signal strength is less than the human presence threshold Y1, the process proceeds to step S10. If the signal strength is equal to or greater than the human presence threshold Y1, the process returns to step S7. Note that in the actual second seated state D1, the user P1 is not moving, so the amplitude strength of the Doppler signal is almost zero, and the signal strength often remains slightly higher than the human presence threshold Y1.

[0047] In step S10, it is determined whether the time during which the signal strength is less than the human presence threshold Y1 is equal to or greater than a predetermined time H0. Specifically, the control unit 17 measures the time during which the signal strength is less than the human presence threshold Y1, and if the time is equal to or greater than the predetermined time H0 (because it is certain that the user P1 has left his / her seat), the process proceeds to step S11. That is, if the time is equal to or greater than the predetermined time H0, the control unit 17 determines that the user is in the unseated state B1. If the time is less than the predetermined time H0, the process returns to step S7. That is, if the time is less than the predetermined time H0, the control unit 17 maintains its determination that the user is in the second seated state D1. Note that a time during which the signal strength is less than the human presence threshold Y1 is less than the predetermined time H0 means that, in the past, it would be erroneously determined that the user P1 has left his / her seat because the signal strength has fallen below the human presence threshold Y1, even though the user P1 is actually still seated.

[0048] In step S11, the control unit 17 determines that the state of user P1 is in the away-from-seat state B1. If the state is in the away-from-seat state B1, the control unit 17 stops the supply of cleansing water to the cleansing nozzle 26 and retracts the cleansing nozzle 26 if the local cleansing device 22 is in use. Furthermore, after a certain period of time has elapsed since determining that the user is in the away-from-seat state, the control unit 17 causes the water flushing device 21 to perform a cleansing operation inside the bowl unit 7. When step S11 is completed, the process returns to step S1.

[0049] In the first example of Fig. 5, the time H1 during which the signal strength is less than the human presence threshold Y1 is less than the predetermined time H0. Therefore, in step S10 of Fig. 4, it is determined that the user is in the second seated state D1. In other words, if the signal strength becomes less than the human presence threshold Y1 after determining that the user is in the second seated state D1, and the measurement time is less than the predetermined time H0, the determination that the user is in the second seated state D1 is maintained. Therefore, even if the signal strength becomes less than the human presence threshold Y1 despite the user P1 being seated on the toilet seat 11, it is unlikely that the user will be erroneously detected as being in the unseated state B1.

[0050] In the second example of Fig. 9, the time H2 during which the signal strength is less than the human presence threshold Y1 is equal to or longer than the predetermined time H0, so it is determined that the person is actually in the unseated state B1 (corresponding to Fig. 10). In other words, if the signal strength becomes less than the human presence threshold Y1 after determining that the person is in the second seated state D1, and the measurement time is equal to or longer than the predetermined time H0, it is correctly determined that the person is in the unseated state B1.

[0051] (Modification) The radio wave sensor 5 is not limited to being provided in the toilet seat device 3, but may be provided in the toilet body 2 or the remote control operator 13.

[0052] (Aspects) The present specification discloses the following aspects.

[0053] A toilet apparatus (1) according to a first aspect includes a toilet body (2), a toilet seat (11), a radio wave sensor (5), and a determination unit (17). The toilet seat (11) is placed on the toilet body (2). The radio wave sensor (5) is set with a seating threshold (X1) and a human presence threshold (Y1) lower than the seating threshold (X1) for the detected signal strength. The determination unit (17) determines whether the user (P1) is in a seated state (C1, D1) in which the user (P1) is about to sit or is sitting on the toilet seat (11) based on the detected distance to the user (P1) and the signal strength detected by the radio wave sensor (5). The determination unit (17) determines that the user is in the seated state (C1) when the detected distance is the seating distance (L1) and the signal strength is equal to or greater than the seating threshold (X1). After determining that the state is seated (C1), the judgment unit (17) maintains the judgment that the state is seated (D1) if the detection distance is the seated distance (L1) and the signal strength is equal to or greater than the human presence threshold (Y1).

[0054] According to this aspect, the state of the user (P1) is determined based on both the detection distance and the signal strength, so that the accuracy of the determination is increased.

[0055] In the toilet device (1) according to the second aspect, in the first aspect, the determination unit (17) can determine whether or not the user (P1) is in a seated state (B1) in which the user (P1) is not seated but is in the toilet device space (SP1). When the signal strength falls below the human presence threshold (Y1) after determining that the user is in the seated state (D1), the determination unit (17) measures the time during which the signal strength was below the human presence threshold (Y1), and if the measured time is less than a predetermined time (H0), maintains the determination that the user is in the seated state (D1), and if the measured time is equal to or greater than the predetermined time (H0), determines that the user is in the seated state (B1).

[0056] According to this aspect, when the signal strength falls below the human presence threshold (Y1) after determining that the user is in the seated state (D1), the determination that the user is in the seated state (D1) is maintained as long as the measurement time is less than the predetermined time (H0). Therefore, even if the signal strength falls below the human presence threshold (Y1) despite the user (P1) being seated on the toilet seat (11), it is unlikely that the user will be erroneously detected as being in the unseated state.

[0057] In the toilet device (1) according to the third aspect, in the second aspect, the judgment unit (17) judges that the seated state (B1) is present when the detection distance exceeds the seated distance (L1) and the signal strength is equal to or greater than the human presence threshold (Y1).

[0058] According to this aspect, the state of the user (P1) is determined based on both the detection distance and the signal strength, so that the accuracy of the determination is increased.

[0059] In the toilet device (1) according to the fourth aspect, in the second or third aspect, the determination unit (17) can determine whether the toilet device space (SP1) is in an unattended state (A1) where the user (P1) is not present. When the signal strength is below the human presence threshold (Y1) in the unattended state (B1), the determination unit (17) determines that the toilet device is in an unattended state (A1).

[0060] According to this aspect, the state of the user (P1) is determined based on both the detection distance and the signal strength, so that the accuracy of the determination is increased.

[0061] 1: Toilet device 5: Radio wave sensor 11: Toilet seat 15: Sensor unit 16: Signal processing unit 17: Control unit (determination unit) A1: Unattended state B1: Unattended state C1: First seated state D1: Second seated state H0: Predetermined time L1: Seated distance P1: User SP1: Toilet interior space (toilet device space) X1: Seated threshold Y1: Human presence threshold

Claims

1. A toilet device comprising: a toilet body; a toilet seat placed on the toilet body; a radio wave sensor in which a seating threshold and a human presence threshold lower than the seating threshold are set for the detected signal strength; and a judgment unit which judges whether the user is in a seated state, either attempting to sit on the toilet seat or sitting on it, based on the signal strength and the detection distance to the user detected by the radio wave sensor, wherein the judgment unit judges that the user is in the seated state if the detection distance is the seating distance and the signal strength is equal to or greater than the seating threshold, and after determining that the user is in the seated state, maintains its judgment that the user is in the seated state if the detection distance is the seating distance and the signal strength is equal to or greater than the human presence threshold.

2. The toilet device of claim 1, wherein the judgment unit is capable of judging whether the user is not seated but is in the toilet device space and is in an away from seat state, and when the signal strength falls below the human presence threshold after judging that the user is in the seated state, measures the time that the signal strength was below the human presence threshold, and if the measured time is less than a predetermined time, maintains the judgment that the user is in the seated state, and if the measured time is equal to or longer than the predetermined time, judges that the user is in the away from seat state.

3. The toilet device according to claim 2, wherein the determination unit determines that the seated state has occurred when the detection distance exceeds the seated distance and the signal strength is equal to or greater than the human presence threshold.

4. A toilet device as described in claim 2 or 3, wherein the judgment unit is capable of determining whether or not the user is not present within the toilet device space and is in an unmanned state, and judges that the toilet device is in an unmanned state when the signal strength falls below the human presence threshold value in the case of the user leaving the seat.

Images