Device and method for supplying safe drinking water

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device and method for supplying safe drinking water and, more specifically, to a device and method for supplying safe drinking water, wherein: tap water is allowed to be dispensed only when measured turbidity of the tap water satisfies a predetermined reference value and the water includes no foreign substances, the presence of the foreign substances in the water being inspected on the basis of a water image obtained by capturing, using a camera, the tap water to be supplied; foreign substance identification information including the measured turbidity and the water image is displayed to assure a drinker of the cleanliness of the tap water; and when the drinker requests water dispensing, the tap water to be dispensed is sterilized using UV and is then dispensed.

Description

Safe drinking water supply device and method

[0001] The present invention relates to a device and method for supplying safe drinking water, and more particularly, to a device and method for supplying safe drinking water, which measures the turbidity of tap water to determine whether the turbidity satisfies a preset standard, examines whether there are foreign substances (or "particles") in the water based on a water image captured by a camera of tap water to be supplied, and permits tap water to be dispensed only when there are no foreign substances, and displays foreign substance confirmation information including the measured turbidity and water image to make the drinker aware that the tap water is clean, and upon a drinker's request for water dispensing, sterilizes the dispensed tap water with UV and then dispenses it, so that citizens can drink tap water with confidence.

[0002] The government invests trillions of won in budget and effort every year to produce clean and safe tap water.

[0003] However, due to distrust in the safety of tap water, people do not drink tap water directly, but instead use water purifiers at high cost or purchase bottled water to drink.

[0004] Although tap water is supplied cleanly and treated, most of it is used for non-drinking purposes such as washing dishes, laundry, and bathing.

[0005] Accordingly, the government is investing significant effort and significant funds to increase tap water drinking rates. While these efforts have increased public satisfaction with and use of tap water, the actual drinking rate remains at around 5%.

[0006] In addition, the number of cases of damage and complaints filed with the Korea Consumer Agency due to water quality problems caused by poor management of water purifiers is increasing every year.

[0007] It has been revealed that one in three bottled water sellers have been selling drinking water supplied by companies that violate water quality standards.

[0008] To solve these problems, the drinking water quality information provision system (hereinafter referred to as “prior art”), registered in the Republic of Korea Patent No. 10-1632732 (announced on June 23, 2016), measures water quality by a main drinking water device installed within the same water quality facility area to raise public awareness of the safety of tap water, and displays the measured water quality to other drinking water devices within the same water quality facility area, thereby providing reliability of tap water supplied to the same water quality facility area.

[0009] Although the above prior art provides a certain level of reliability to the public, it has limitations in providing the public with confidence in their tap water by only displaying simple numbers.

[0010] This is because the public still has vague concerns about the quality of tap water, and a solution that can fundamentally resolve this is required.

[0011] Accordingly, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a safe drinking water supply device and method that measures the turbidity of tap water to determine whether the turbidity satisfies a preset standard, examines whether there are foreign substances in the water based on a water image taken by a camera of tap water to be supplied, and allows tap water to be dispensed only when there are no foreign substances, and displays foreign substance confirmation information including the measured turbidity and water image to make the drinker aware that the tap water is clean, and when the drinker requests to dispense water, sterilizes the dispensed tap water with UV before dispensing it, so that citizens can drink tap water with confidence.

[0012] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a safe drinking water supply device comprising: a display unit; a turbidity measuring unit including a first tank, which receives tap water and discharges it to the outside through the first tank, and measures the turbidity of the tap water flowing through the first tank; an image water quality measuring unit including a second tank, which discharges tap water supplied from the turbidity measuring unit through the second tank, and outputs a water image photographing the tap water supplied to the second tank; a sterilizing unit which sterilizes tap water introduced through the turbidity measuring unit and the image water quality measuring unit with UV; an outlet unit which discharges tap water sterilized by UV in the sterilizing unit to the outside as drinking water; and a control module which analyzes the water image input from the image water quality measuring unit to check whether there is a foreign substance in the tap water, and displays the water image, foreign substance confirmation information which is a result of a foreign substance inspection using the water image, and the measured turbidity information on the display unit.

[0013] The device further includes: a drinking water supply unit that, under control, processes tap water supplied from the water quality measurement unit and discharges it as drinking water to the sterilization unit; and a water treatment unit that receives tap water from a water pipe and discharges it to the turbidity measurement unit or discharges water supplied to the turbidity measurement unit, the water quality measurement unit, and the drinking water supply unit to the outside, wherein the control module is characterized in that, when the turbidity exceeds a reference value or a foreign substance is present, the tap water supplied through the water treatment unit is discharged to the outside, and when the turbidity is below the reference value or a foreign substance is present, the tap water is allowed to discharge through the sterilization unit and the discharge unit.

[0014] The above turbidity measuring unit is characterized in that it is arranged so as to be inclined at a certain angle with respect to the vertical or horizontal direction so that the tank is arranged in a diamond shape, and the outlet is formed at the upper vertex of the diamond shape.

[0015] The device further comprises: an input unit including an input means for generating a water treatment command for tap water, wherein the control module displays a drinking water outlet interface means including a water treatment means capable of generating the water treatment command through the display unit, and a drinking water outlet interface unit for generating and outputting a water treatment command input by a user through the input unit and the drinking water outlet interface means; a turbidity confirmation unit for controlling the turbidity measurement unit to obtain turbidity for tap water in a first tank of the turbidity measurement unit, determines whether the turbidity exceeds a preset reference value, and outputs result information; an image particle confirmation unit for controlling the image water quality measurement unit to obtain a water image for tap water in a second tank of the image water quality measurement unit, confirms whether there is a foreign substance in the obtained water image, and outputs foreign substance confirmation information; a UV control unit for driving the sterilization unit when a sterilization unit driving event occurs; And if it is determined that the turbidity exceeds the standard or a foreign substance is present based on the result information and the foreign substance confirmation information, the tap water supplied through the water treatment unit is discharged to the outside, and if the turbidity is below the standard or there is no foreign substance, the tap water is allowed to be discharged through the sterilization unit and the water discharge unit, and the water discharge control unit controls the drinking water supply unit to perform water treatment according to the water treatment command.

[0016] The above image particle verification unit is characterized in that, when photographing tap water in the second tank, it acquires an upper water image, a middle water image, and a lower water image photographed in three stages, the upper, middle, and lower parts of the second tank, and determines whether there is a foreign substance in each of the upper water image, the middle water image, and the lower water image.

[0017] The above-mentioned video particle verification unit is characterized in that it generates a differential image by the difference between two sequential numerical images among three consecutive frame numerical images, performs a pixel multiplication operation on the two differential images (Diff1, Diff2) to generate a detection image, and then counts the number of pixels in which a change has occurred in the detection image, and if the counted number of pixels exceeds a preset reference value, determines that a foreign substance is present and outputs the detection image to the particle type detection unit.

[0018] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a safe drinking water supply method, which comprises: a turbidity measuring process in which a control module measures the turbidity of tap water supplied to a first tank of a turbidity measuring unit including a first tank; an image water quality measuring process in which the control module acquires a water image captured by a water quality measuring unit including a second tank of tap water, analyzes the water image to check whether a foreign substance exists in the tap water, and outputs foreign substance confirmation information as the result information; a drinking water quality information display process in which the control module displays the water image, the foreign substance confirmation information for the water image, and the measured turbidity on the display unit; and a sterilization process in which the control module controls a sterilization unit to sterilize tap water introduced through the turbidity measuring unit and the image water quality measuring unit with UV light.

[0019] The above method is characterized in that it further includes a water supply decision process in which the control module discharges tap water supplied through the water treatment unit to the outside when the turbidity exceeds the standard or foreign substances are present, and allows the tap water to be discharged through the sterilization unit and the water discharge unit when the turbidity is below the standard or foreign substances are absent.

[0020] The above-described water quality measurement process is characterized in that it includes an upper water image acquisition step in which the control module moves the camera of the water quality measurement unit to the upper part of the second tank and acquires an upper water image captured by photographing the upper tap water of the second tank; a middle water image acquisition step in which the control module moves the camera of the water quality measurement unit to the middle part of the second tank and acquires a middle water image captured by photographing the tap water of the middle part of the second tank; a lower water image acquisition step in which the control module moves the camera of the water quality measurement unit to the lower part of the second tank and acquires a lower water image captured by photographing the tap water of the lower part of the second tank; and a foreign matter monitoring step in which the control module determines whether there is a foreign matter in each of the upper water image, the middle water image, and the lower water image.

[0021] The above foreign substance monitoring step is characterized in that it includes a difference image generation step in which the image particle verification unit generates a difference image by the difference between two sequential numerical images among numerical images of three consecutive frames; a detection image generation step in which the image particle verification unit generates a detection image by performing a pixel multiplication operation on the two difference images (Diff1, Diff2); a change counting step in which the image particle verification unit counts the number of pixels in which a change has occurred in the detection image; and a detection image providing step in which the image particle verification unit determines that a foreign substance is present when the counted number of pixels exceeds a preset reference value and outputs the detection image to the particle type detection unit.

[0022] The present invention has the effect of improving the reliability of tap water for drinking by displaying water quality information including the turbidity of tap water and the presence of foreign substances based on an image, and when a user requests to dispense water, sterilizing drinking water of verified water quality by irradiating it with ultraviolet rays and then dispensing the water.

[0023] In addition, the present invention is configured so that the turbidity measuring unit is tilted and positioned within the device and tap water enters from the bottom and exits from the top, so that the tank of the turbidity measuring unit is formed in a diamond shape, so that bubbles generated from the tap water naturally gather at the top of the tank formed at the top, and the gathered bubbles are naturally discharged through the outlet formed at the top of the tank, so that there is no need to configure a separate air vent in the turbidity measuring device. By doing so, the internal tank of the turbidity measuring device is maintained in a vacuum state, so that foreign substances and bacteria can be prevented from penetrating into the tank from the outside, and thus measurement errors caused by the penetration of foreign substances and bacteria from the outside can be prevented, so that there is an effect of improving the accuracy of turbidity measurement.

[0024] Figure 1 is a block diagram showing a safe drinking water supply device according to the present invention.

[0025] Figure 2 is a drawing showing a mechanical configuration based on a tap water path inside a safe drinking water supply device according to the present invention.

[0026] Figure 3 is a drawing for explaining the configuration of a turbidity measuring unit and a bubble removal method of a drinking water supply device according to the present invention.

[0027] Figure 4 is a drawing showing a detailed configuration of a control module of a drinking water supply device according to the present invention.

[0028] Figure 5 is a flow chart showing a drinking water supply method according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining an image-based foreign substance detection method among drinking water supply methods according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] Referring to the attached drawings below, the configuration and operation of a safe drinking water supply device according to the present invention are described in detail, and a method for supplying safe drinking water by the device is described.

[0031] Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a safe drinking water supply device according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a diagram showing a mechanical configuration based on a tap water path inside a safe drinking water supply device according to the present invention, and Fig. 3 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of a turbidity measuring unit and a bubble removal method of a drinking water supply device according to the present invention. The following description will be given with reference to Figs. 1 to 3.

[0032] The safe drinking water supply device according to the present invention includes a turbidity measuring unit (20), a water quality measuring unit (30), a sterilizing unit (50), a water outlet unit (60), a display unit (70), and a control module (100), and may further include a water treatment unit (10), a drinking water supply unit (40), an input unit (80), and a communication unit (90) according to an embodiment.

[0033] The water treatment unit (10) is connected to the water pipe (1) as shown in Fig. 2 and includes a tap water supply valve (12) that supplies tap water supplied from the water pipe (1) to a turbidity measurement unit (20), a cleaning valve (11) that discharges tap water supplied to the turbidity measurement unit (20), a camera cleaning valve (13) that discharges tap water supplied to the video water quality measurement unit (30), and a direct water pipe cleaning valve (14) that discharges tap water supplied to the drinking water supply unit (40).

[0034] The water treatment unit (10) supplies tap water from the water pipe (1) to the turbidity measurement unit (20) under the control of the control module (100), or discharges tap water supplied to the turbidity measurement unit (20), the water quality measurement unit (30), and the drinking water supply unit (40) to the sewage pipe (2) or to the outside.

[0035] The turbidity measuring unit (20) includes a main body (21), a turbidity lamp (22), a turbidity sensor (23), an inlet (24), a drain (25), and an outlet (26), as shown in Fig. 3.

[0036] The main body (21) includes a first tank (3) having a space portion on the inside.

[0037] The turbidity lamp (22) is configured at the upper part of the main body (21) and irradiates light into the internal space of the first tank (3).

[0038] The turbidity sensor (23) is configured on the left or right side of the main body (21) and measures the turbidity of the tap water in the first tank (3) and outputs it to the control module (100).

[0039] The water inlet (24) is connected to the first water tank (3) by penetrating from the lower part of the main body (21) and is connected to the tap water supply valve (12) to supply tap water from the water pipe (1) to the first water tank (3). According to an embodiment, the water inlet (24) may further include an inlet valve (not shown) that is directly connected to the water pipe (1) and supplies or blocks tap water from the water pipe (1) to the first water tank (3) under the control of the control module (100).

[0040] The drain (25) is connected to the first tank (3) and is connected to the cleaning valve (11) to discharge tap water in the first tank (3) to the outside under the control of the control module (100).

[0041] The outlet (26) is configured at the upper edge of the first water tank (3), is connected to the first water tank (3) through a penetration, and is connected to the water quality measurement unit (30) to supply tap water filled in the first water tank (3) to the water quality measurement unit (30).

[0042] The above turbidity measuring unit (20) is positioned so as to be inclined at a certain angle with respect to the vertical or horizontal direction within the safe drinking water supply device, as shown in FIG. 3, so that the outlet (26) is located at the vertex of a diamond.

[0043] This is to ensure that the first water tank (3) is formed in a diamond shape in the horizontal direction as shown in Fig. 3, and to ensure that the air bubbles (4) generated in the tap water supplied to the first water tank (3) naturally gather at the upper vertex of the diamond. The air bubbles (4) gathered at the vertex of the first water tank (3) will be discharged to the outside from the first water tank (3) through the outlet (26) when the tap water of the first water tank (3) is supplied to the water quality measuring unit (30). The air bubbles discharged to the outside through the outlet (26) may be configured to be discharged through the air vent valve (35) configured in the hose between the water quality measuring unit (30) and the drinking water supply unit (40) while being supplied to the drinking water supply unit (40) through the water quality measuring unit (30).

[0044] By doing so, the turbidity measuring unit (20) of the present invention does not need to configure an air vent, so the space of the first tank (3) is not exposed to the external environment, and thus the inflow of foreign substances and bacteria into the first tank (3) that occur when air bubbles are removed by using the air vent can be prevented. That is, since the turbidity measuring unit (20) of the present invention can measure the water quality only for the supplied tap water because the space of the first tank (3) is not exposed to the external environment, it can prevent measurement errors due to the inflow of external contaminants.

[0045] The water quality measurement unit (30) includes a second tank (not shown) having a space inside which tap water is supplied, a lighting unit (31) that irradiates light onto the second tank, and a camera (32) that photographs the tap water in the second tank and outputs a water image.

[0046] The water quality measurement unit (30) of FIG. 2 is tilted 90 degrees to the right, and according to the embodiment, the camera (30) is configured to move up and down (left and right in FIG. 2) along the second water tank, and performs shooting by dividing into upper, middle, and lower parts, and provides the upper water image, middle water image, and lower water image to the control module (100).

[0047] The drinking water supply unit (40) is configured according to an embodiment to receive tap water from the water quality measurement unit (30), perform water treatment under the control of the control module (100), and supply the water to the sterilization unit (50). Here, water treatment means heating the supplied tap water to a preset temperature and discharging it, cooling it to a preset temperature and discharging it, or discharging it as is.

[0048] The sterilization unit (50) is operated under the control of the control module (100) to sterilize tap water supplied from the drinking water supply unit (40) by irradiating it with ultraviolet rays (UV) and then supplying it to the water outlet (60).

[0049] The water outlet (60) may include a water outlet button according to an embodiment, and when the water outlet button is pressed or a water outlet command is input from the control module (100), tap water supplied from the sterilizing unit (50) is outletted to the outside as drinking water.

[0050] The display unit (70) may be a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display device, etc., and displays various information in the form of one or more of text, graphics, still images, and moving images under the control of the control module (100).

[0051] The input unit (80) may include at least one of a button input device including a plurality of buttons for selecting hot water, cold water, lukewarm water, tap water (tap water without treatment), etc., and a touch pad that allows selection of hot water dispensing, cold water dispensing, lukewarm water dispensing, tap water dispensing, UV driving, turbidity measurement, foreign matter check, etc. by touch through a drinking water dispensing interface means, which is a user graphic interface means that is configured integrally with the screen of the display unit (70) and outputs position information corresponding to the position of the screen being touched to the control module.

[0052] The communication unit (90) enables data communication with a management system (not shown), a computer terminal used by a safe drinking water supply device manager, a smart terminal, or other administrator terminal, through a data communication network that is combined with at least one of an Internet network including a WiFi network, a mobile communication network including 3rd Generation (3G), 4G, 5G, etc.

[0053] The control module (100) controls the overall operation of the safe drinking water supply device according to the present invention. The detailed configuration and operation of the control module (100) are described with reference to the following Figure 5.

[0054]

[0055] Figure 4 is a drawing showing a detailed configuration of a control module of a drinking water supply device according to the present invention.

[0056] Referring to FIG. 4, the control module (100) includes a drinking water outlet interface unit (101), a turbidity confirmation unit (102), an image particle confirmation unit (104), a particle type detection unit (105), a UV control unit (106), and a water outlet control unit (107).

[0057] The drinking water outlet interface unit (101) displays a drinking water outlet interface means on the display unit (70), receives a user water treatment command through the input unit (80) or the drinking water outlet interface means and the input unit (80), and outputs a water treatment command corresponding to the user water treatment command to a corresponding component among the water outlet control unit (107), the turbidity confirmation unit (102), the image particle confirmation unit (104), the particle type detection unit (105), and the UV control unit (106). The water treatment command may be a hot water outlet command, a lukewarm water outlet command, a cold water outlet command, a tap water outlet command, a turbidity confirmation command, a foreign matter confirmation command, a foreign matter type detection command, a UV driving command, etc.

[0058] The drinking water outlet interface unit (101) collects turbidity, water images, foreign substance confirmation result information, foreign substance type information, etc. from the turbidity confirmation unit (102), the image particle confirmation unit (104), and the particle type detection unit (105) and displays them through the drinking water outlet interface means.

[0059] The turbidity confirmation unit (102) obtains the turbidity of the tap water supplied to the first tank (3) through the turbidity measurement unit (20) when a turbidity confirmation event occurs, outputs the turbidity to the drinking water outlet interface unit (101), determines whether the obtained turbidity exceeds a preset standard, and outputs the result information to the water outlet control unit (107). The turbidity confirmation event may occur at a preset regular cycle, or may occur when a turbidity confirmation command is input from the input unit (80) and the communication unit (90). The turbidity confirmation command may occur when the turbidity confirmation button of the input unit (80) or the input unit (80) and the drinking water outlet interface means is pressed or clicked, or may be received from a remote management system (not shown) and an administrator terminal through the communication unit (90).

[0060] The image particle verification unit (104) controls the image water quality measurement unit (30) to obtain a water image of tap water in the second tank of the image water quality measurement unit (30), checks whether there is a foreign substance in the obtained water image, and outputs foreign substance verification information to the drinking water outlet interface unit (101), particle type detection unit (105), and water outlet control unit (107).

[0061] The video particle verification unit (104) performs photography while sequentially moving the camera (32) of the video water quality measurement unit (30) to the upper, middle, and lower parts of the second tank in order to more precisely check whether there are foreign substances in the tap water in the second tank of the video water quality measurement unit (30), thereby obtaining an upper water image photographing the tap water in the upper part of the second tank, a middle water image photographing the tap water in the middle part, and a lower water image photographing the tap water in the lower part.

[0062] When an upper water image, a central water image photographing tap water in the middle, and a lower water image photographing tap water in the lower part are acquired, the image particle verification unit (104) checks for the presence of foreign substances in each of the upper water image, the central water image, and the lower water image.

[0063] When explaining the method of detecting foreign substances in the image particle verification unit (104), the image particle verification unit (104) acquires three numeric images, which are consecutive frame images, from the camera (32) to check for the presence of foreign substances in the numeric images and converts each numeric image to grayscale (black and white).

[0064] When three grayscaled numeric images are acquired, the image particle verification unit (104) generates a difference image (Diff1, Diff2) based on the difference between frames as in the following mathematical expression 1, performs a pixel multiplication operation on the two difference images to generate a detection image, and counts the number of pixels in which a change has occurred in the detection image.

[0065]

[0066] The video particle verification unit (104) ignores the change amount if the counted pixel number is below a preset standard value, and if it exceeds the standard value, it considers that there is a foreign substance and outputs the detection image to the particle type detection unit (105).

[0067] The particle type detection unit (105) includes, depending on the embodiment, a plurality of images of various foreign substances or a plurality of images containing different foreign substances, and a foreign substance classification artificial intelligence model trained by learning data labeled with foreign substance identification information contained in each image. The foreign substance identification information may be an identification number uniquely assigned to each foreign substance or a foreign substance name.

[0068] When a detection image is input from the image particle confirmation unit (104), the particle type detection unit (105) applies the detection image to a foreign substance classification artificial intelligence model to identify the type of foreign substance included in the detection image, and provides the foreign substance type information to the drinking water outlet interface unit (101).

[0069] According to another embodiment, the artificial intelligence model for classifying foreign substances may be configured in a separate foreign substance classification server (not shown) that is connected to the safe drinking water supply device of the present invention through an Internet network (not shown) and can perform communication through the communication unit (90).

[0070] In this case, the particle type detection unit (105) transmits the detection image input from the image particle confirmation unit (104) to the foreign substance classification server, applies the detection image to the foreign substance classification artificial intelligence model, receives the classified foreign substance type information from the foreign substance classification server, stores it, and then displays it on the display unit (70) through the drinking water outlet interface unit (101).

[0071] The UV control unit (106) controls the sterilization unit (50) to irradiate ultraviolet rays to the supply pipe supplying tap water from the water quality measurement unit (30) or the drinking water supply unit (40) to the water outlet (60) when a UV driving event occurs. The UV driving event may occur only once when power is supplied to the safe drinking water supply device, or may occur when a water outlet request is made through the water outlet (60) or the input unit (80), or may occur when a UV driving command is input through the input unit (80) and the drinking water outlet interface means. That is, the sterilization unit (50) may be driven when power is supplied and may operate continuously until the device is powered off, or may be driven continuously from the time a UV driving command is input until the device is powered off or a UV driving end command is input, or may operate only for a certain period of time when a water outlet request is generated.

[0072] The water discharge control unit (107) discharges tap water supplied through the water treatment unit (10) to the outside when the turbidity exceeds the standard or a foreign substance is present based on the result information input from the turbidity confirmation unit (102) and the foreign substance confirmation information input from the image particle confirmation unit (104), and allows the tap water to be discharged through the sterilization unit (50) and the water discharge unit (60) when the turbidity is below the standard or a foreign substance is present, and controls the drinking water supply unit (40) to perform water treatment according to the water treatment command.

[0073]

[0074] Figure 5 is a flow chart showing a drinking water supply method according to the present invention.

[0075] Referring to FIG. 5, when the water treatment unit (10) or the turbidity measurement unit (20) is connected to the water pipe (1), the control module (100) controls the water treatment unit (10) to supply tap water to the turbidity measurement unit (20) or controls the water inlet valve (not shown) provided at the water inlet (24) of the turbidity measurement unit (20) to supply tap water to the turbidity measurement unit (20) (S111).

[0076] When tap water starts to be supplied, the control module (100) measures turbidity through the turbidity measuring unit (20) (S113), and when the turbidity exceeds the standard, displays turbidity information on the display unit (70) (S117), and controls the water treatment unit (10) to discharge tap water supplied to the turbidity measuring unit (20), the water quality measuring unit (30), and the drinking water supply unit (40) to the outside (S119).

[0077] If the turbidity is normal, the control module (100) generates a differential image by differentiating between three consecutive water images taken of tap water supplied through the water quality measurement unit (30), and checks whether there are foreign substances in the tap water based on the generated differential image (S123) to determine whether there are foreign substances (S125). The method for detecting foreign substances is described in more detail with reference to the following Figure 6.

[0078] The control module (100) checks for the presence of foreign substances based on the image, and if a foreign substance is detected, displays water quality information including turbidity, water image, etc. on the display unit (70) (S131), and controls the water treatment unit (10) to discharge tap water supplied into the device to the outside (S133).

[0079] According to an embodiment, the control module (100) generates a detection image by performing a pixel product operation of two difference images (Diff1, Diff2) generated by the difference between three numerical images generated when detecting a foreign substance, and applies the detection image to a foreign substance classification artificial intelligence model, or transmits the detection image to a foreign substance classification server (not shown) having the foreign substance classification artificial intelligence model (S127), and monitors whether the classified foreign substance type is acquired (S129), and when the foreign substance type is output, the foreign substance type information including the foreign substance information and the foreign substance image will be displayed together when the water quality information is displayed. The control module (100) should store a foreign substance image corresponding to the foreign substance information.

[0080] On the other hand, if the turbidity of tap water is normal and there are no foreign substances, the control module (100) displays water quality information including turbidity information, water image without foreign substances, etc. on the display unit (70) (S135) and performs tap water supply permission processing to allow tap water to be supplied as drinking water (S139).

[0081] When the tap water supply permission is processed, the control module (100) operates the UV sterilizer (50) to sterilize the tap water supplied to the outlet (60) (S141).

[0082]

[0083] Figure 6 is a flowchart for explaining an image-based foreign substance detection method among drinking water supply methods according to the present invention.

[0084] Referring to FIG. 6, the image particle verification unit (104) of the control module (100) acquires a water image, which is three sequential frame images, through the camera (32) of the water quality measurement unit (30) (S211).

[0085] When three consecutive numeric images are acquired, the image particle verification unit (104) performs grayscale conversion on each frame, i.e., each numeric image, to convert it into a black and white image (S213).

[0086] The video particle verification unit (104) performs a difference (frame1-frame2, frame2-frame3) between three numerical images (frame1, frame2, frame3) converted to black and white images as in the above mathematical expression 1 to generate a difference image (Diff1, Diff2) (S215).

[0087] Once the differential image is generated, the image particle verification unit (104) performs a pixel multiplication operation on the differential image to generate a detection image (S217). If the image contains foreign matter, the detection image will correspond to the foreign matter image.

[0088] When a detection image is generated, the image particle verification unit (104) counts the number of pixels in which a change has occurred in the detection image (S219).

[0089] When the number of pixels is counted, the image particle verification unit (104) determines whether the number of pixels exceeds a preset standard (S221).

[0090] As a result of the judgment, if the number of pixels is below the standard, the image particle verification unit (104) ignores (discards) the captured water image, outputs water quality information indicating that the water quality is normal to the water discharge control unit (107), and displays it on the display unit (70) through the drinking water discharge interface unit (101) (S223).

[0091] On the other hand, if the number of pixels exceeds the above-mentioned standard and it is determined that a foreign substance is present, the image particle identification unit (104) outputs foreign substance identification information indicating that a foreign substance has been detected to the output control unit (107) (S225), and provides the detected image to the particle type detection unit (105) (S227).

[0092] Meanwhile, those skilled in the art will readily understand that the present invention is not limited to the aforementioned typical preferred embodiments, but can be implemented by various improvements, modifications, substitutions, or additions without departing from the spirit of the present invention. If such improvements, modifications, substitutions, or additions fall within the scope of the appended claims, the technical ideas thereof shall also be deemed to belong to the present invention.

[0093]

[0094] [Explanation of symbols]

[0095] 1: Water pipe 3: Tank 1

[0096] 10: Water treatment unit 11: Cleaning valve

[0097] 12: Tap water supply valve 13: Camera cleaning valve

[0098] 14: Direct water pipe cleaning valve 20: Turbidity measuring unit

[0099] 21: Main body 22: Turbidity lamp

[0100] 23: Turbidity sensor 24: Inlet

[0101] 25: Drain 26: Outlet

[0102] 30: Water quality measurement unit 31: Lighting lamp

[0103] 32: Camera 40: Drinking water supply

[0104] 50: Sterilization section 60: Water outlet section

[0105] 70: Display section 80: Input section

[0106] 90: Communications Unit 100: Control Module

[0107] 101: Drinking water outlet interface 102: Turbidity check section

[0108] 104: Video particle verification unit 105: Particle type detection unit

[0109] 106: UV control unit 107: Water discharge control unit

Claims

1. Display section; A turbidity measuring unit including a first tank, which receives tap water and discharges it to the outside through the first tank, and measures the turbidity of the tap water flowing through the first tank; A water quality measurement unit including a second tank, and discharging tap water supplied from the turbidity measurement unit through the second tank, and outputting a water image taken of the tap water supplied to the second tank; A sterilizing unit that sterilizes tap water introduced through a turbidity measuring unit and a water quality measuring unit using UV; A water outlet for discharging UV-sterilized tap water from the above sterilization unit into drinking water; and A safe drinking water supply device characterized by including a control module that analyzes a water image input from the water quality measurement unit to check whether there is a foreign substance in the tap water, and displays the water image, foreign substance confirmation information as a result of the foreign substance inspection using the water image, and the measured turbidity information on the display unit.

2. In paragraph 1, A drinking water supply unit that treats tap water supplied from the water quality measurement unit under control and discharges it to the sterilization unit as drinking water; and Further comprising a water treatment unit that receives tap water from a water pipe and discharges it to the turbidity measuring unit or discharges the water supplied to the turbidity measuring unit, the water quality measuring unit, and the drinking water supply unit to the outside. The above control module, A safe drinking water supply device characterized in that when the turbidity exceeds the standard or foreign substances are present, the tap water supplied through the water treatment unit is discharged to the outside, and when the turbidity is below the standard or there are no foreign substances, the tap water is allowed to be discharged through the sterilization unit and the water discharge unit.

3. In paragraph 1, The above turbidity measuring unit, A safe drinking water supply device characterized in that the tank is arranged to be inclined at a certain angle with respect to the vertical or horizontal direction so as to have a diamond shape, and a water outlet is formed at the upper vertex of the diamond shape.

4. In paragraph 3, Further comprising an input section including an input means for generating a water treatment command of tap water, The above control module, A drinking water outlet interface means including a water treatment means capable of generating the water treatment command through the display unit, and a drinking water outlet interface means that generates and outputs a water treatment command input by a user through the input unit and the drinking water outlet interface means; A turbidity confirmation unit that controls the above turbidity measurement unit to obtain turbidity of tap water in the first tank of the turbidity measurement unit, determines whether the turbidity exceeds a preset standard, and outputs the result information; An image particle confirmation unit that controls the above-mentioned image water quality measurement unit to obtain a water image of tap water in the second tank of the image water quality measurement unit, checks whether there is a foreign substance in the obtained water image, and outputs foreign substance confirmation information; A UV control unit that operates the sterilizing unit when a sterilizing unit operation event occurs; and A safe drinking water supply device characterized by including a water discharge control unit that discharges tap water supplied through the water treatment unit to the outside when the turbidity is determined to exceed the standard or a foreign substance is present based on the above result information and the foreign substance confirmation information, and allows the tap water to be discharged through the sterilization unit and the water discharge unit when the turbidity is determined to be below the standard or a foreign substance is present, and controls the drinking water supply unit to perform water treatment according to the water treatment command.

5. In paragraph 4, The above video particle verification unit is, A safe drinking water supply device characterized in that when photographing tap water in the second tank, an upper water image, a middle water image, and a lower water image are obtained by photographing the upper, middle, and lower parts of the second tank in three stages, and the presence of foreign substances is determined for each of the upper water image, middle water image, and lower water image.

6. In paragraph 5, The above video particle verification unit is, The above image particle verification unit generates a differential image by the difference between two sequential numerical images among three consecutive frame numerical images, performs a pixel multiplication operation on the two differential images (Diff1, Diff2) to generate a detection image, and then counts the number of pixels in which a change has occurred in the detection image, and if the counted number of pixels exceeds a preset standard, determines that a foreign substance is present and outputs the detection image to the particle type detection unit. A safe drinking water supply device characterized in that:

7. Turbidity measurement process in which the control module measures the turbidity of tap water supplied to the first tank of the turbidity measurement unit including the first tank; An image water quality measurement process in which the control module acquires an image of tap water supplied to the second tank through an image water quality measurement unit including the second tank, analyzes the image, checks whether there is a foreign substance in the tap water, and outputs the result information, which is foreign substance confirmation information; A process for displaying drinking water quality information in which the control module displays the water image, foreign matter identification information for the water image, and the measured turbidity on the display unit; and A safe drinking water supply method characterized in that the control module controls the sterilization unit and includes a sterilization process for sterilizing tap water introduced through a turbidity measurement unit and a water quality measurement unit with UV.

8. In paragraph 7, A safe drinking water supply method characterized in that the control module further includes a water supply decision process for allowing the tap water to be discharged through the water treatment unit if the turbidity exceeds the standard or foreign substances are present, and for allowing the tap water to be discharged through the sterilization unit and the water discharge unit if the turbidity is below the standard or foreign substances are present.

9. In paragraph 8, The above water quality measurement process is: An upper water image acquisition step in which the control module moves the camera of the water quality measurement unit to the upper part of the second tank to acquire an upper water image by photographing the upper tap water of the second tank; A central water image acquisition step in which the control module moves the camera of the water quality measurement unit to the central part of the second tank to acquire a central water image taken of the central tap water of the second tank; A bottom water image acquisition step in which the control module moves the camera of the water quality measurement unit to the bottom of the second tank to acquire a bottom water image by photographing the bottom tap water of the second tank; and A safe drinking water supply method, characterized in that the control module includes a foreign substance monitoring step for determining the presence of foreign substances in each of the upper water image, the middle water image, and the lower water image.

10. In paragraph 9, The above foreign substance monitoring step is: The above image particle verification unit is a differential image generation step of generating a differential image by the difference between two sequential numerical images among three consecutive frame numerical images; A detection image generation step in which the above image particle verification unit generates a detection image by performing a pixel multiplication operation on the two difference images (Diff1, Diff2); A change amount counting step in which the above image particle verification unit counts the number of pixels in which a change has occurred in the above detection image; and A safe drinking water supply method characterized by including a detection image providing step of outputting the detection image to the particle type detection unit, wherein the detection image is determined to be present when the number of pixels counted by the image particle verification unit exceeds a preset standard.

Images