Smart toilet

Abstract

A smart toilet, comprising: a toilet body having a wall mounting surface; a toilet seat pivotally connected to the toilet body and comprising a toilet seat body, wherein a pivot portion is arranged on the side of the toilet seat body close to the wall mounting surface, the pivot portion is pivotally connected to the toilet body, and an edge of the toilet seat body on the same side as the pivot portion is recessed towards a direction moving away from the wall mounting surface to form a gap; and a radar monitor mounted on the toilet body and located in the gap, wherein the gap exposes a signal surface of the radar monitor. By utilizing the strong signal penetration capability of the radar monitor, there are fewer limitations on the choice of materials for toilet lids; and in addition, there is no need to additionally provide a window on a rear lid for signal output of the radar monitor, thereby greatly improving the aesthetics of the smart toilet and achieving a wider range of application.

Description

smart toilet

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202422790988.8, filed on November 15, 2024, entitled "Intelligent Toilet", the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] This utility model relates to the field of bathroom technology, and in particular to a smart toilet. Background Technology

[0003] Toilets are frequently used household appliances. Their function and structure make them prone to accumulating dirt and grime, leading to bacterial growth. Most toilets on the market require manual contact with the toilet seat to open or close. Furthermore, the flushing mechanism often needs to be manually activated or controlled. This manual contact with the toilet seat and the flushing mechanism makes using the toilet inconvenient and also poses hygiene risks.

[0004] Smart toilets enable contactless opening of the toilet lid and seat. This is based on human body recognition; the smart toilet issues a corresponding action command when a person approaches or leaves. To accurately detect a person's approach or departure, the smart toilet is equipped with a sensing range; the lid-opening command is only issued when the target is within the sensing range.

[0005] However, many smart toilets currently use pyroelectric sensors and infrared sensors. The signal strength of both types is significantly affected by the material of the outer casing. The signal strength is greatly reduced as it passes through the casing, leading to sensing errors. Therefore, some toilets currently require a separate window on the casing for signal transmission, which negatively impacts the overall appearance of the smart toilet.

[0006] Therefore, how to improve the appearance of smart toilets while ensuring the effective transmission of sensor signals is a technical problem that urgently needs to be solved. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The problem solved by this utility model is to provide a smart toilet that, on the one hand, utilizes the strong signal penetration capability of the radar monitor and is less affected by the toilet seat material; on the other hand, it eliminates the need for a separate window on the back cover for signal output, greatly improving the aesthetics of the smart toilet.

[0008] To address the aforementioned problems, this utility model provides a smart toilet, comprising: a toilet body having a wall mounting surface; a toilet seat pivotally connected to the toilet body, the toilet seat comprising a toilet seat body having a pivot portion on the side of the toilet seat body near the wall mounting surface, the pivot portion forming a pivot connection with the toilet body, and the edge of the toilet seat body on the same side as the pivot portion being recessed in a direction away from the wall mounting surface to form a gap; and a radar monitor installed on the toilet body, the radar monitor being located within the gap, the gap exposing the signal surface of the radar monitor.

[0009] Optionally, the angle between the signal surface of the radar monitor and the surface of the toilet body ranges from 52° to 55°.

[0010] Optionally, there are two pivot joints, which are distributed on both sides of the gap, and the toilet seat body and the pivot joints are integrally formed.

[0011] Optionally, there is one pivot joint, which is located on the side of the toilet seat body closest to the wall mounting surface. The toilet seat body on both sides of the pivot joint is recessed in the direction away from the wall mounting surface to form a gap.

[0012] Optionally, it also includes: a base plate fixed to the toilet body, the base plate being connected to a power source, and a radar monitor located on the toilet body between the base plate and the toilet seat body.

[0013] Optionally, it also includes: a nozzle located on the toilet body, the water outlet of the nozzle extending into the bowl of the toilet body, a base plate and a radar monitor located on the same side of the nozzle, and the base plate controlling the opening and closing of the nozzle.

[0014] Optionally, the distance from the signal transmission point on the signal surface to the inclined surface of the toilet body is L; the distance between the signal surface and the toilet seat body in a direction parallel to the toilet body surface is d; the angle between the signal surface and the surface of the toilet body is α; the maximum thickness of the toilet seat body in front of the signal surface is h; and the minimum vertical detection angle of the radar detector is β, satisfying the following conditions:

[0015] Optionally, it also includes: a protective box fixed to the toilet body, with the radar monitor installed inside the protective box.

[0016] Optionally, the protective box includes an outer shell and a lug plate connected to the side of the outer shell. The lug plate has screw holes and is fixed to the toilet body by bolts. The angle between the surface of the lug plate and the side of the outer shell is complementary to the angle between the signal surface and the surface of the toilet body.

[0017] Optionally, the radar monitor includes an antenna board, a control board, and a microwave radar, with the microwave radar fixed to the control board, which has a communication pin interface.

[0018] Compared with the prior art, the technical solution of this utility model has the following advantages:

[0019] In one technical solution of this utility model, the edge surface of the middle part of the toilet seat is recessed in the first direction relative to the edge surface of the pivot part, thus forming a gap. The gap exposes part of the surface of the toilet body. At this time, a radar monitor is installed on the toilet body exposed by the gap, and the gap also exposes the signal surface of the radar monitor. On the one hand, the radar monitor has strong signal penetration, which reduces the material restrictions on the toilet seat and expands the range of materials that can be selected for the toilet seat. On the other hand, the edge surface of the toilet seat is recessed in the first direction relative to the edge surface of the pivot part, forming a gap. The gap exposes the surface of the toilet body, and the radar monitor is installed on the toilet body corresponding to the gap, with the gap exposing the signal surface of the radar monitor. This eliminates the need to open a window on the back cover for the radar monitor's signal output, improving the aesthetics of the smart toilet and reducing production costs while increasing efficiency.

[0020] Furthermore, the angle between the signal surface of the radar monitor and the surface of the toilet body is between 52° and 55°, so that the radar monitor signal will not be blocked regardless of whether the toilet seat is open (flipped) or closed (not flipped), thus providing a wide sensing range. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a smart toilet in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 2 is a right view of Figure 1 showing only the top surface of the toilet body;

[0023] Figure 3 is a simplified diagram showing the installation relationship between the toilet seat body, the radar monitor, and the toilet body.

[0024] Figure 4 shows the signal distribution of the radar monitor when the toilet seat is closed;

[0025] Figure 5 is the front view of Figure 4;

[0026] Figure 6 shows the signal distribution of the radar monitor when the toilet seat is opened;

[0027] Figure 7 is the front view of Figure 6;

[0028] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of the radar monitor in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the protective box in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 10 is a structural schematic diagram of the toilet seat in another embodiment of this utility model. Detailed Implementation

[0031] The aesthetics of smart toilets still need improvement.

[0032] Based on this, the present invention provides a smart toilet that utilizes the edge surface of the middle part of the toilet seat (the toilet seat body between the pivot parts) to form a gap by recessing it relative to the edge surface of the pivot part in the direction away from the wall mounting surface. This gap exposes part of the surface of the toilet body. At this time, a radar monitor is installed on the toilet body exposed by the gap, and the gap also exposes the signal surface of the radar monitor. On the one hand, the radar monitor has strong signal penetration, which reduces the material restrictions on the toilet seat and expands the range of toilet seat material choices. On the other hand, the edge surface of the toilet seat body is recessed relative to the edge surface of the pivot part in the first direction to form a gap, exposing the surface of the toilet body. The radar monitor is installed on the toilet body corresponding to the gap, and the gap exposes the signal surface of the radar monitor. This eliminates the need to open a window on the back cover for the radar monitor's signal output, improving the aesthetics of the smart toilet and reducing production costs while increasing efficiency.

[0033] To make the above-mentioned objectives, features and advantages of this utility model more apparent and understandable, the specific embodiments of this utility model will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0034] Figure 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a smart toilet in one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a right view of Figure 1 showing only the top surface of the toilet body; Figure 3 is a simplified diagram showing the installation relationship of the toilet seat body, radar monitor, and toilet body; Figure 4 is a signal distribution diagram of the radar monitor when the toilet seat is closed; Figure 5 is a front view of Figure 4; Figure 6 is a signal distribution diagram of the radar monitor when the toilet seat is open; Figure 7 is a front view of Figure 6; Figure 8 is a structural schematic diagram of the radar monitor in one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 9 is a structural schematic diagram of the protective box in one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 10 is a structural schematic diagram of the toilet seat in another embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] First, please refer to Figures 1, 2 and 8. The smart toilet 100 includes a toilet body 101, a toilet seat 102 and a radar monitor 103.

[0036] In this embodiment, the toilet seat 102 is pivotally connected to the toilet body 101. The toilet seat 102 can be flipped relative to the toilet body 101. The toilet seat 102 includes a toilet seat body 102b, which has a pivot portion 102a that is pivotally connected to the toilet body 101. The toilet body 101 has a wall mounting surface 101a for mounting the toilet body 101 on the wall. The toilet seat body 102b located on the side of the pivot portion 102a is recessed in a direction away from the wall mounting surface 101a to form a gap 108, which exposes the surface of the toilet body 101.

[0037] In this embodiment, there are two pivot portions 102a. A pair of pivot portions 102a are distributed on the same side of the toilet seat body 102 near the wall mounting surface 101a, and a pair of pivot portions 102a are distributed on both sides of the gap 108.

[0038] In some embodiments, referring to FIG10, the number of pivot portions 102a may be one. The pivot portion 102a is located on the side of the toilet seat body 102b close to the wall mounting surface 101a. The toilet seat body 102b on both sides of the pivot portion 102a is recessed in the direction away from the wall mounting surface 101a, forming a gap 108.

[0039] In this embodiment, the radar monitor 103 is installed on the toilet body 101 corresponding to the gap 108. The gap 108 exposes the signal surface of the radar monitor 103, so there is no need to open a window on the back cover for the signal output of the radar monitor 103. This improves the aesthetics of the smart toilet 100 and reduces production costs while increasing efficiency.

[0040] In this embodiment, the signal surface of the radar monitor 103 is tilted upwards to avoid the toilet seat 102 blocking the signal of the radar monitor 103 when it is closed.

[0041] In this embodiment, the radar monitor 103 automatically senses the user's approach and activates various functions of the toilet, providing a more convenient and comfortable user experience. The radar monitor 103 integrates the different functions of multiple sensors, which greatly saves costs and improves the aesthetics of the smart toilet 100.

[0042] In this embodiment, the toilet seat body 102b and the pivot part 102a are integrally formed, which greatly improves the aesthetics of the smart toilet 100.

[0043] In this embodiment, please refer to Figure 2. The angle α between the signal surface of the radar monitor 103 and the surface of the toilet body 101 ranges from 52° to 55°. Within this range, regardless of whether the toilet seat 102 is open (flipped, please refer to Figures 6 and 7) or closed (not flipped, please refer to Figures 4 and 5), it will not obstruct the signal of the radar monitor 103. The sensing range is wide and it has a wide range of applications.

[0044] In this embodiment, a toilet seat 104 (see Figure 4) is also included. The toilet seat 104 is pivotally connected to the toilet body 101, and the toilet seat 104 is detachably connected to the pivot 102a.

[0045] In this embodiment, the radar monitor 103 has strong signal penetration capability, which reduces the restrictions on the choice of materials for the toilet seat 104. At the same time, the radar monitor 103 is installed in the recess of the toilet seat body 102b, so there is no need to open an additional through hole on the toilet seat body 102b for transmitting the radar monitor 103 signal. This improves the aesthetics of the smart toilet, reduces the manufacturing process, is convenient and quick, and has a wide range of applications.

[0046] In this embodiment, please refer to Figure 3. In Figure 3, the arrows represent the signal lines emitted at the minimum vertical detection angle. The signal surface of the radar monitor 103 is tilted upwards. The distance L between the signal emission point on the signal surface and the surface of the toilet body 101 is the inclined plane distance. The distance d between the signal surface of the radar monitor 103 and the toilet seat body 102b in the direction parallel to the surface of the toilet body 101 is the distance between them. The angle α between the signal surface of the radar monitor 103 and the surface of the toilet body 101 is the angle between them. The maximum thickness h of the toilet seat body 102b in front of the signal surface is the maximum vertical detection angle β of the radar monitor 103. Then, the following conditions are met: This allows the radar monitor 103 to be used with toilet seats 102 of various thicknesses, making it widely applicable.

[0047] In this embodiment, the maximum vertical detection angle of the radar monitor 103 is less than 90°, so that when the toilet seat 102 is opened (see Figure 6), it will not block the signal 103d of the radar monitor 103.

[0048] Specifically, the vertical detection angle of the radar monitor 103 ranges from -37° to 33°, and the horizontal detection angle of the radar monitor 103 ranges from -44° to 42°.

[0049] In this embodiment, referring to FIG1, it further includes: a base plate 105 fixed on the toilet body 101, the base plate 105 being connected to a power source, and a radar monitor 103 located on the base plate 105 and the toilet body 101 on the rear side (near the wall mounting surface) of the toilet body 101 (near the wall mounting surface).

[0050] In this embodiment, the radar monitor 103 is electrically connected to the substrate 105.

[0051] In this embodiment, the substrate 105 is powered by a power supply and then controls various components, including the radar monitor 103, to operate.

[0052] Please continue to refer to Figure 1, which includes: a nozzle 106 located on the toilet body 101, the water outlet of the nozzle 106 extending into the toilet bowl of the toilet body 101, a base plate 105 and a radar monitor 103 located on the same side of the nozzle 106, and the base plate 105 controlling the opening and closing of the nozzle 106.

[0053] In addition to the radar monitor 103, nozzle 106, toilet seat 102, and toilet body 101, a typical smart toilet 100 also includes a toilet seat heating unit, a light module, a deodorizing unit, a flushing unit, and an automatic opening and closing control unit. The baseboard 105 processes and sends control signals to ensure the operation of each component. Specifically, the radar monitor 103 can detect whether a person is approaching the toilet and entering the sensing area, or is in the sensing area, and transmits the relevant information to the baseboard 105. Upon receiving the information, the baseboard 105 controls the opening and closing of the nozzle 106, the operation of the toilet seat heating unit, the opening and closing of the light module, the deodorizing unit to perform the corresponding deodorizing function, the flushing unit to flush the toilet, and the automatic opening and closing control unit to control the opening and closing of the toilet seat 102 and toilet lid 104, etc.

[0054] Referring to Figures 1 and 9, the system also includes: a protective box 107 fixed to the toilet body 101, and a radar monitor 103 installed inside the protective box 107.

[0055] In this embodiment, the protective box 107 is installed at a certain angle on the surface of the toilet body 101, so that the radar monitor 103 can determine the limb position information of the person in front of the toilet.

[0056] In this embodiment, the protective box 107 includes an outer shell 107a and an ear plate 107b connected to the side of the outer shell 107a. The ear plate 107b has screw holes and is fixed to the toilet body 101 by bolts.

[0057] The included angle γ between the surface of the ear plate 107b and the side of the outer shell 107a is complementary to the included angle α, i.e., γ+α=180°.

[0058] Please refer to Figure 8. The radar monitor 103 includes an antenna board, a control board 103a, and a microwave radar 103b. The microwave radar 103b is fixed on the control board 103a, and the control board 103a has a communication pin interface 103c.

[0059] In this embodiment, the radar monitor 103 uses FMCW waveforms combined with the MCU's proprietary radar signal processing and built-in intelligent presence sensing algorithm to detect targets and gestures within a designated area and report the results. The data signal generated by the radar chip communicating with the MCU undergoes simple radar signal processing and is then sent to the MCU control unit. The MCU control unit analyzes the acquired data and the actual DFFT data pattern, begins processing the algorithm and gesture sensing algorithm, obtains the radar data result, and sends it via serial port to control the toilet to flush.

[0060] In this embodiment, the radar monitor 103 uses the propagation of electromagnetic waves to measure distance. The continuous pulse emitted by the transmitter is modulated into a frequency-modulated continuous wave, and the frequency changes continuously over time. The received signal also has a continuously changing frequency modulation characteristic. The distance between the two signals is calculated based on the time difference and phase difference between the transmitted and received signals.

[0061] In this embodiment, the control board 103a has a reserved programming port and at least four communication pin interfaces 103c, facilitating the connection and debugging of the serial port tool. Programs can be downloaded using programmers such as J-Link and CMSIS-DAP. When using a 5V power supply and connecting the hardware and the serial port tool, the connection method is as follows: connect the hardware's TX pin to the serial port tool's RX pin, and vice versa. Connect jumpers to the 5V power supply and GND. If using other serial port tools, a 5V power supply is also required. Ensure that GigaDevice.GDE230x_DFP.1.0.1.pack or a later version of the CMSIS pack and the serial port tool software assistant or host computer software are installed.

[0062] While the present invention has been disclosed above, it is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art can make various modifications and alterations without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention; therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the scope defined in the claims.

Claims

1. A smart toilet, characterized by comprising: include: The toilet body has a wall mounting surface; A toilet seat is pivotally connected to the toilet body. The toilet seat includes a toilet seat body. The toilet seat body has a pivot portion on the side near the wall mounting surface. The pivot portion is pivotally connected to the toilet body. The edge of the toilet seat body on the same side as the pivot portion is recessed in a direction away from the wall mounting surface to form a gap. A radar monitor is installed on the toilet body, the radar monitor is located in the gap, and the gap exposes the signal surface of the radar monitor.

2. The intelligent toilet of claim 1, wherein, The angle between the signal plane of the radar monitor and the surface of the toilet body ranges from 52° to 55°.

3. The intelligent toilet of claim 1, wherein, The number of pivot joints is two, and the two pivot joints are distributed on both sides of the gap. The toilet seat body and the pivot joints are integrally formed.

4. The intelligent toilet of claim 1, wherein, The number of the pivot joints is one, and the pivot joint is located on the side of the toilet seat body close to the wall mounting surface. The toilet seat body on both sides of the pivot joint is recessed in the direction away from the wall mounting surface to form the gap.

5. The intelligent toilet of claim 1, wherein, Also includes: A base plate fixed to the toilet body, the base plate being connected to a power source, and a radar monitor located on the toilet body between the base plate and the toilet seat body.

6. The intelligent toilet of claim 5, wherein, Also includes: A nozzle is located on the toilet body, with the water outlet of the nozzle extending into the toilet bowl of the toilet body. The base plate and the radar monitor are located on the same side of the nozzle, and the base plate controls the opening and closing of the nozzle.

7. The intelligent toilet of claim 1, wherein, The distance between the signal emitting point on the signal surface and the inclined surface of the toilet body surface is L, the distance between the signal surface and the toilet body in the direction parallel to the surface of the toilet body is d, the included angle between the signal surface and the surface of the toilet body is a, the maximum thickness of the toilet body in front of the signal surface is h, and the minimum vertical detection angle of the radar monitor is β, satisfying 8. The intelligent toilet of claim 2, wherein, Also includes: A protective box is fixed to the toilet body, and the radar monitor is installed inside the protective box.

9. The intelligent toilet of claim 8, wherein, The protective box includes an outer shell and a lug plate connected to the side of the outer shell. The lug plate has screw holes and is fixed to the toilet body by bolts. The angle between the surface of the lug plate and the side of the outer shell is complementary to the angle between the signal surface and the surface of the toilet body.

10. The intelligent toilet of claim 1, wherein, The radar monitor includes an antenna board, a control board, and a microwave radar. The microwave radar is fixed on the control board, which has a communication pin interface.

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