EP0581605A1 - Apparatus for detecting a person seated on a toilet seat - Google Patents

Apparatus for detecting a person seated on a toilet seat Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0581605A1
EP0581605A1 EP93306041A EP93306041A EP0581605A1 EP 0581605 A1 EP0581605 A1 EP 0581605A1 EP 93306041 A EP93306041 A EP 93306041A EP 93306041 A EP93306041 A EP 93306041A EP 0581605 A1 EP0581605 A1 EP 0581605A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
toilet seat
person
output
oscillator
circuit
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP93306041A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Toshiaki Takaba
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Inax Corp
Original Assignee
Inax Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Inax Corp filed Critical Inax Corp
Publication of EP0581605A1 publication Critical patent/EP0581605A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
    • G08B21/00—Alarms responsive to a single specified undesired or abnormal condition and not otherwise provided for
    • G08B21/18—Status alarms
    • G08B21/22—Status alarms responsive to presence or absence of persons
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47K—SANITARY EQUIPMENT NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; TOILET ACCESSORIES
    • A47K13/00—Seats or covers for all kinds of closets
    • A47K13/24—Parts or details not covered in, or of interest apart from, groups A47K13/02 - A47K13/22, e.g. devices imparting a swinging or vibrating motion to the seats

Definitions

  • This invention relates to an apparatus for detecting a person seated on a toilet seat.
  • Two heaters 12 and 14 are disposed in the left half and the right half respectively of a toilet seat 10. These heaters 12 and 14 are connected to each other in series through an inductor 16, and are supplied with electricity from a commercial mains electricity supply 18.
  • Reference numeral 20 denotes a switch for operating the heaters.
  • a high frequency signal voltage from a high frequency oscillator circuit 22 is applied across the series line-up of the heaters 12 and 14.
  • the above-mentioned inductor 16 has almost no resistance with respect to the 50Hz-60Hz frequency commercial mains electricity, but with respect to the high frequency signal the inductor 16 has a very high resistance and performs as an insulator in practice. Therefore, when there is not a person on the toilet seat 10, the signal from the high frequency oscillator circuit 22 is not inputted into the detection circuit 24.
  • a capacitor 26 is created parallel to the inductor 16 by the person's body, as shown by dashed lines in Fig. 5, and the high frequency signal is conducted through the heaters 12 and 14. As a result, the high frequency signal is inputted into the detection circuit 24, and the person on the toilet seat is detected.
  • Reference numeral 28 denotes a band pass filterwhich only passes high frequencies and which blocks off the low frequency 50Hz-60Hz mains current
  • reference numeral 30 denotes an inductor which performs a function similar to that of the inductor 16.
  • the conventional apparatus for detecting a person seated on a toilet seat described above has the disadvantage that when a person sits on the front end of the toilet seat (in a so-called 'shallow' seated position), and when a person makes contactwith only one side of the toilet seat (a so-called 'one-side' seated position), the above-mentioned capacitor 26 is not created and therefore the presence of the person is not detected.
  • An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for detecting a person seated on a toilet seat which can reliably detect the person even when he/she sits thereon in an unusual manner.
  • the present invention provides apparatus for detecting a person seated on a toilet seat, comprising an oscillator circuit and detector means for detecting an output from the oscillator circuit, characterised in that the apparatus further comprises electrode means mountable on the toilet seat and coupled to the oscillator circuit, the arrangement being such that, when a person sits on the toilet seat, the electrode means and the person provide a capacitance to ground which alters the output from the oscillator circuit, the detector means being arranged to output a signal to indicate that a person is seated on the toilet seat on detecting said alteration in the output of the oscillator circuit.
  • the oscillator circuit is a high frequency oscillator circuit containing an oscillator of which one of the output connections is grounded and the other is connected to an amplifier which amplifies the output of the oscillator.
  • the apparatus may further comprise a comparison circuit which outputs a 'person seated' signal when the output voltage of the high frequency oscillator circuit is lower than a reference value.
  • the electrode may be mounted inside or on an under surface of the toilet seat, which may be on the inside of the seat, if hollow. The electrode produces an electrostatic capacitance between the oscillator and the ground through the body of a person seated on the toilet seat.
  • a capacitance is created parallel to the oscillator by the body of the person, which causes the high frequency signal voltage outputted by the oscillator circuit to become small, and the presence of a person seated on the toilet seat may then be detected by the voltage of this high frequency signal being compared with a reference voltage. That is to say, when there is no person seated on the toilet seat, the signal voltage is higher than the reference voltage, and when a person sits down on the toilet seat the signal voltage becomes lower than the reference voltage.
  • the person seated on the toilet seat is detected wit hout fail wheneverthe area of contact between the person and the toilet seat exceeds a predetermined size, detection is accomplished irrespectively of whetherthe person sits in a normal manner on the toilet seat or not.
  • a toilet seat 40 is provided with a hollow interior 42, and an electrode 44 is stuck onto the ceiling (under) surface of this hollow interior 42.
  • This electrode 44 might for example consist of a sheet of a metal such as aluminium.
  • a heater element 46 is mounted on this electrode 44.
  • This heater element 46 is connected to the mains electricity supply 70 via inductors 72 and 74 and a switch 76, and switching this switch to ON causes the heater element 46 to give off heat and warm up the toilet seat 40.
  • the heater element 46 may be used as the electrode.
  • an apparatus 48 for detecting a person seated on a toilet comprises a high frequency oscillator circuit 50, a band pass filter 52 for allowing only high frequency signals to pass, an averaging circuit 54 for rectifying the high frequency signal arriving through the band pass filter 52 into a direct current and carrying out smoothing on the direct current, and a comparison circuit 58 for comparing the output voltage of this averaging circuit 54 with a reference voltage from a reference voltage generator device 56.
  • the high frequency oscillator circuit 50 consists essentially of an NPN-type transistor 60 and a crystal oscillator 62 connected between the base of the transistor60 and the ground.
  • the electrode 44 is connected by a lead wire 78 to the output connection on the side of this oscillator 62 opposite from the grounded side.
  • a capacitance 64 is created between the electrode 44 and ground, as shown by dashed lines in Fig.3, and the amplitude of the output voltage of the oscillator 62 that is inputted into the base of the transistor 60 becomes small.
  • the amplitude of the high frequency oscillator circuit 50 becomes small, and the value of the comparison voltage outputted to the comparison circuit 58 from the averaging circuit 54 becomes lower than the reference voltage. This causes the level of the output signal of the comparison circuit 58 to be reversed, and detection is accomplished.
  • this detection apparatus when a person makes contact with the toilet seat 40 in such a way that the contact area is larger than a predetermined area, withoutfail the output signal of the high frequency oscillator circuit 50 becomes lower and the presence of the seated person is detected. In otherwords, with this detecting apparatus, whatever the manner in which a person sits on the toilet seat, the person is detected accurately, so far as the area of contact between the person and the toilet seat is larger than the predetermined size.
  • the comparison circuit 58 Based on the output of the comparison circuit 58 the presence or otherwise of a person seated on the toilet seat is detected, and this information can be used in the control of the operation of devices such as a device for washing the user's buttocks with warm water, a fan for removing fetid air from inside the toilet bowl, and a warm air blower for drying the user's buttocks.
  • devices such as a device for washing the user's buttocks with warm water, a fan for removing fetid air from inside the toilet bowl, and a warm air blower for drying the user's buttocks.
  • the detecting apparatus when the area of contact between a person and the toilet seat becomes larger than a certain predetermined size, the presence of the person seated on the toilet seat can be detected without fail, irrespectively of whether or not the person is seated in a correct manner on the toilet seat.
  • an oscillating circuit could be used whose output signal frequency is varied by the capacitance 64, and this change in frequency could be used to detect a person sitting on the toilet seat.

Landscapes

  • Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Emergency Management (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Toilet Supplies (AREA)
  • Geophysics And Detection Of Objects (AREA)
  • Bidet-Like Cleaning Device And Other Flush Toilet Accessories (AREA)
EP93306041A 1992-07-31 1993-07-30 Apparatus for detecting a person seated on a toilet seat Withdrawn EP0581605A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP204728/92 1992-07-31
JP4204728A JPH0646970A (ja) 1992-07-31 1992-07-31 着座検知装置

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0581605A1 true EP0581605A1 (en) 1994-02-02

Family

ID=16495334

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP93306041A Withdrawn EP0581605A1 (en) 1992-07-31 1993-07-30 Apparatus for detecting a person seated on a toilet seat

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0581605A1 (ja)
JP (1) JPH0646970A (ja)
KR (1) KR0141081B1 (ja)
TW (1) TW229273B (ja)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8381329B2 (en) 2006-10-24 2013-02-26 Bradley Fixtures Corporation Capacitive sensing for washroom fixture
CN109730573A (zh) * 2019-03-18 2019-05-10 九牧厨卫股份有限公司 一种儿童座圈、智能马桶盖及智能马桶

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
KR100625117B1 (ko) * 2003-12-18 2006-09-20 에이디반도체(주) 비데의 착좌 감지장치
KR100649487B1 (ko) * 2004-08-10 2006-11-24 에이디반도체(주) 정전용량 스위치를 포함하는 착좌
KR100757294B1 (ko) * 2006-12-28 2007-09-10 이주동 저주파 치료기능이 구비된 좌변기의 좌대
WO2014163326A1 (ko) * 2013-04-01 2014-10-09 Kim Min Ja 생체의 움직임 패턴 감지 장치를 포함하는 온열 제어 장치, 온냉장치 및 그 제조방법
JP7146170B2 (ja) * 2018-11-02 2022-10-04 Toto株式会社 便座装置

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1988008595A1 (en) * 1987-04-24 1988-11-03 Coleman Electronic Designs Ltd Capacitance proximity sensor
US4841583A (en) * 1986-08-29 1989-06-27 Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha Capacitance toilet seat switch for bidet
US4887024A (en) * 1987-10-27 1989-12-12 Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha Person detecting device
EP0441381A1 (en) * 1990-02-08 1991-08-14 Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha Capacitive occupation detector apparatus

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2960497B2 (ja) * 1990-08-10 1999-10-06 愛知電機株式会社 衛生洗浄装置の着座検出装置

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4841583A (en) * 1986-08-29 1989-06-27 Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha Capacitance toilet seat switch for bidet
WO1988008595A1 (en) * 1987-04-24 1988-11-03 Coleman Electronic Designs Ltd Capacitance proximity sensor
US4887024A (en) * 1987-10-27 1989-12-12 Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha Person detecting device
EP0441381A1 (en) * 1990-02-08 1991-08-14 Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha Capacitive occupation detector apparatus

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8381329B2 (en) 2006-10-24 2013-02-26 Bradley Fixtures Corporation Capacitive sensing for washroom fixture
US9328490B2 (en) 2006-10-24 2016-05-03 Bradley Fixtures Corporation Capacitive sensing for washroom fixture
CN109730573A (zh) * 2019-03-18 2019-05-10 九牧厨卫股份有限公司 一种儿童座圈、智能马桶盖及智能马桶
CN109730573B (zh) * 2019-03-18 2023-10-20 九牧厨卫股份有限公司 一种儿童座圈、智能马桶盖及智能马桶

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPH0646970A (ja) 1994-02-22
KR940005860A (ko) 1994-03-22
TW229273B (ja) 1994-09-01
KR0141081B1 (ko) 1999-02-18

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