Toilet Test Agent Discharge Unit for Undiluted Urine Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing urine testing systems for household flush toilets require complex preparation, involve large amounts of test agents, and are susceptible to concentration changes due to flush water dilution, necessitating the use of buffer agents.
Innovation Solution
A functional unit for a toilet system that includes a discharge section, input device, and control section, allowing users to selectively discharge a test agent onto the toilet bowl surface or pooled water, controlled by an input device and independent of flush water dilution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a solid agent with pH indicator and buffer agent is placed in the flush water tank for slow release, then urine testing can be performed, but the system becomes complex and requires adjustment of test agent concentration according to flush water volume
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the test agent discharge function from the flush water tank system and places it in a separate discharge section. The test agent is discharged directly onto the toilet bowl surface or pooled water by a dedicated discharge mechanism, independent of the flush water tank. This separation eliminates the need for slow-release mechanisms and buffer agents, simplifying the overall system while maintaining urine testing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the urine testing system into independent functional modules: a test agent storage section, a discharge section with controlled discharge mechanism, and a control section. This segmentation allows each module to be optimized independently and simplifies the overall system architecture compared to the integrated solid agent approach.
2Reliability
If a solid agent is slowly released in the flush water tank, then urine testing is enabled, but large amounts of test agent are required depending on flush water volume
Solution Approach 1:
The test agent is extracted from the flush water tank environment and discharged directly to the target location (toilet bowl surface or pooled water). This eliminates dilution by large volumes of flush water, allowing effective urine testing with minimal test agent quantity.
Solution Approach 2:
The test agent is discharged locally and directly to the specific location where urine contact is needed, rather than being dispersed throughout the entire flush water tank. This localized application maximizes the efficiency of the test agent and reduces the required quantity.
3Reliability
If test agent is discharged into pooled water, then urine testing is performed, but results are affected by pH changes from new flush water addition
Solution Approach 1:
The patent provides two options that both extract the test agent from the pH-unstable flush water environment: (1) discharging onto the toilet bowl surface where urine mixes with the agent, or (2) discharging onto pooled water after the flush cycle when pH is stable. Both approaches avoid the pH fluctuations that occur during and after flush water addition.
Solution Approach 2:
The system discharges the test agent after the flush cycle is complete, when the pH of the pooled water has stabilized. This timing ensures that the test agent is not subjected to pH changes from new water addition, maintaining composition stability for accurate testing.
4Measurement precision
If buffer agent is added to maintain pH stability, then test accuracy is improved, but device complexity and substance quantity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the need for buffer agents by extracting the test agent discharge from the flush water tank environment. The test agent is discharged directly to the toilet bowl surface or to pooled water after pH stabilization, removing the requirement for pH maintenance chemicals and associated complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of adding buffer agents to maintain pH stability in the flush water tank, the patent inverts the approach by discharging the test agent after the flush cycle when pH has naturally stabilized, or by discharging onto the bowl surface where urine pH is already established. This eliminates the need for additional pH control substances.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables convenient, user-controlled urine testing with reduced test agent usage and consistent results by spraying the agent directly onto the toilet surface or pooled water, independent of flush water pH changes.
Implementation Method 1
discharge section discharging, into a toilet bowl, a test agent that allows for determination of a health condition of a human body through a reaction with urine
Implementation Method 2
a test agent that allows for determination of a health condition of a human body through a reaction with urine
Data Source
AI summary
A functional unit for a toilet system includes: a discharge section discharging, into a toilet bowl, a test agent that allows for determination of a health condition of a human body through a reaction with urine; an input device configured to allow a user to perform an operation for discharging the test agent from the discharge section; and a control section controlling the discharge section based on the operation of the input device by the user. A functional unit for a toilet system includes: a discharge section discharging, into a toilet bowl, a test agent that allows for determination of a health condition of a human body through a reaction with urine; a control section controlling the discharge section; and a sensor, in which the control section performs control to discharge at least one of foam or the test agent based on a detection by the sensor.