JP2001331882A - Bathroom abnormality detection system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system for confirming whether or not communication is normally performed between a submerging sensor and a master set when a bathing person enters a bathroom. SOLUTION: In the bathroom abnormality detection system provided with the submerging sensor attached to a human body so as to detect whether the prescribed part of the human body is submerged or not and the master set capable of making communication with the submerging sensor, the submerging sensor is provided with a test starting means for starting a communication test with the master set, a test signal transmitting means for transmitting a test signal, a response signal receiving means for receiving a response signal transmitted from the master set in response to the test signal and a response signal reporting means for deciding and reporting the communication function of the submerging sensor on the basis of the receiving state of the response signal, and the master set is provided with a test signal receiving means for receiving the test signal from the submerging sensor, a test signal analyzing means for analyzing the test signal and a response signal transmitting means for transmitting the analyzed result to the submerging sensor as a response signal.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention comprises a submersion sensor capable of detecting whether or not a predetermined part of a human body is submerged by being worn on a body, and a master unit capable of communicating with the submersion sensor. The present invention relates to a bathroom abnormality detection system that can detect an abnormality of a bather in a bathroom.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Today, drowning due to loss of consciousness due to heart disease or accident during bathing occurs.
Therefore, a submergence sensor for determining whether a predetermined part of a human body is submerged or for how long has been submerged has been proposed. In general, a submersion sensor achieves electrical continuity by, for example, contacting water with a detection unit composed of a pair of electrodes.If the electrical continuity continues for a certain period or more, a predetermined part of the human body is submerged. It is determined that there is. In addition, there has been proposed a submergence sensor in which a submergence sensor is immersed in a bathtub and tilted by its buoyancy so that electrodes disposed inside the submergence sensor come into contact with each other to achieve electrical conduction. In other words, the conventional abnormality detection system using a submergence sensor detects how long the bather has been in the bath or has been immersed in the bath, and notifies the third party of the detection. Was configured to.

[0003]

However, even if the bather is not immersed in hot water, an accident may occur. For example, there is a case where the user loses consciousness after standing up from the bathtub, or a case where the user falls down in the washing place. Such an accident cannot be detected by a submersion sensor only for determining whether or not a predetermined part of a human body is submerged, and therefore, even if an accident occurs in a bather, the bather may be left alone. Therefore, there is a need for an abnormality detection system that can detect an accident even if the bather is not immersed in the bathtub. In addition, if the battery of the submersion sensor is dead or if the radio wave does not reach even if you try to notify the third party outside the bathroom from the submersion sensor,
Even if the submergence sensor detects the possibility of an accident, the bather may be abandoned because the notification cannot be made, and it is necessary to take measures against it.

[0004] The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and has as its object the purpose of, for example, when a bather enters a bathroom.
It is to provide a system for confirming whether communication between the submersion sensor and the master unit is performed normally at the start of use of the submersion sensor, and not only the detection of drowning of the bather by the submersion sensor, An object of the present invention is to provide a system for detecting an abnormality in a bathroom other than drowning by monitoring a bather's staying time in the bathroom.

[0005]

A first characteristic configuration of a bathroom abnormality detecting system according to the present invention for achieving the above object is as described in claim 1 of the claims. A submergence sensor capable of detecting whether or not a predetermined part of the human body is submerged by doing, and a bathroom abnormality detection system including a master unit capable of communicating with the submergence sensor, wherein the submergence sensor is Test start means for starting a communication test with the parent device, test signal transmission means for transmitting a test signal, response signal reception means for receiving a response signal transmitted from the parent device in response to the test signal, Response signal notification means for determining and notifying the communication function of the submergence sensor based on the reception state of the response signal, wherein the master unit receives a test signal from the submergence sensor. A signal receiving unit, a test signal analyzing means for analyzing the test signal, in that it comprises a response signal transmitting means for transmitting to said submerged sensor analysis results as a response signal.

A second feature of the present invention is that, in addition to the first feature, at least one of the submergence sensor and the master unit includes the test device. The present invention is characterized in that it comprises time measuring means for starting time measurement at the same time as the signal is transmitted from the submergence sensor, or time measuring means for starting time measurement at the same time as the master unit receives the test signal.

[0007] In the third feature configuration, in addition to the first or second feature configuration, the test start means can detect water or a human body. Is a sensor capable of detecting that a predetermined portion of the submersion is submerged, and the test signal transmitting means transmits the test signal according to a first detection result.

[0008] In a fourth feature configuration, in addition to the first or second feature configuration, a switch in which the test start means is operable by a human is provided in addition to the first or second feature configuration. And the test signal transmitting means transmits the test signal when the switch is turned on.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the fourth aspect, the switch also serves as a main power switch of the submergence sensor, as described in claim 5 of the claims. It is in.

The operation and effect of the present invention will be described below. According to the first feature configuration of the present invention, by transmitting and receiving a test signal between a submergence sensor capable of detecting whether or not a predetermined part of a human body is submerged and a base unit, the submergence sensor and the base unit It can be confirmed that communication with the server is normal. If the test signal is not received, there is no response from the master unit within a predetermined period, so that it can be determined that there is an abnormality in the communication between the submergence sensor and the master unit and notified. Also, if the test signal is received, but there is an abnormality in the reception state, a response signal to that effect is received from the master unit and notified. Even when the test signal does not reach the master unit due to insufficient power of the submersion sensor, it is determined that there is an abnormality in the communication because there is no response from the master unit for a predetermined period. In this way, by confirming that communication can be performed reliably, it is possible to properly report the detection result of drowning etc. obtained by the submergence sensor to a third party who is on the master unit side, and abnormalities occur in the bathroom. If it occurs, a quick response can be taken.

According to the second characteristic configuration, a test signal is transmitted and received between a submergence sensor capable of detecting whether or not a predetermined part of a human body is submerged and a master unit, so that the submergence sensor and the master unit are transmitted. It can confirm that the communication with the machine is normal. Furthermore, since at least one of the submergence sensor and the master unit includes a time measurement unit that starts a time measurement at the same time that the submersion sensor transmits or receives the test signal, the test signal is transmitted by the submergence sensor or the master unit transmits Using the time at which the test signal was received as the bathing start time, the bather's staying time in the bathroom can be measured. Since the bath stay time can be measured, it can be detected not only by detecting the drowning state in the bath tub by the submersion sensor, but also by monitoring the bath stay time, such as when the bather falls outside the bath tub, etc. Even in the event of an accident, quick response becomes possible.

[0012] According to the third feature configuration, the test start means is a sensor capable of detecting the presence of water or the submersion of a predetermined part of a person, and a test signal is provided in accordance with the first detection result. Transmission means transmits a test signal. With the above configuration, when detecting the presence of water or the submersion of a predetermined part of a person, a test signal for automatically confirming that the communication between the submersion sensor and the master unit is normal is generated. It is transmitted, and it can be confirmed whether the communication between the submersion sensor and the master unit is normal. This ensures that when the submersion sensor subsequently detects the presence of water or that a given part of the person is submerged, it will be notified normally. When measuring the bath stay time of the bather, the time when the above-mentioned communication is confirmed is regarded as the time when the bather enters the room, and the time measurement is started.

According to the fourth characteristic configuration, the test start means capable of transmitting the test signal is a switch that can be operated by a human, and transmits the test signal when the switch is turned on. With the above configuration, it is possible to transmit a test signal when the bather himself enters the bathroom, and it is possible to confirm on the spot whether the communication between the submersion sensor and the master unit is normal. When measuring the bath stay time of the bather, the time when the above-mentioned communication is confirmed is regarded as the time when the bather enters the room, and the time measurement is started.

According to the fifth characteristic configuration, since the switch operable by a human also serves as the main power switch of the submersion sensor, the main power is not turned on while the submersion sensor is not used. This is advantageous from the viewpoint of power saving.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Bathroom abnormality detection system 1 of the present invention
0 will be described with reference to the following drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, a bathroom abnormality detection system 10 according to the present invention outputs a submergence sensor 1 attached to a bather 2 and an alarm signal W for warning that the bather 2 is in a drowning state from the submergence sensor 1. And a master unit 4 for receiving and outputting emergency information.

Referring to FIG. 2, the structure and operation function of the submergence sensor 1 will be described below. The submergence sensor 1 is of a pendant type, and is attached to a neck of the bather 2 using the necklace N, so that the submergence sensor 1 is attached to a desired position such as in front of the bather 2's chest. By mounting in this manner, the submersion sensor 1 is immersed in hot water, and it is possible to detect whether or not the bather 2 is taking a bath. As a detection method, a method of examining electrical conduction between the electrodes 5 by water using a pair of electrodes 5 as described below as a detection unit, or a method of submerging the water sink sensor 1 by soaking in the bathtub 3 and tilting by buoyancy. There is a method of checking the electrical continuity due to contact between the electrodes disposed inside the sensor 1 and the like. There are various methods depending on the type of the submergence sensor 1.

The pair of electrodes 5 are insulated and separated from each other, but when moisture exists between the electrodes 5, the electrodes 5 are electrically connected due to the electrical conductivity of water. As a result, the current value greatly increases from the leak current level in the absence of moisture, and when the current value exceeds a certain threshold, moisture exists around the submergence sensor 1, that is, the submergence sensor 1 Is determined to be submerged. In FIG. 2, the electrodes 5 are arranged side by side on the same surface of the submergence sensor 1, but the arrangement is not limited to this. If there is no moisture around the submersion sensor 1, the electrodes are insulated from each other, and if there is moisture, there is electrical conduction between the electrodes so that the sensor functions as a sensor. Is also good.

The submergence sensor 1 detects the presence of water by measuring the current value between the pair of electrodes 5 as described above.
However, when this detection method is used, when water drops such as a shower intermittently adhere, or when hot water is applied, it is possible to determine that the water is submerged. Is determined to be in the submerged state when the threshold value continuously exceeds the threshold value for 10 seconds, and the setting is made to shift to the “warning mode”.

When the mode shifts to the "warning mode", a warning sound or a warning message is issued, and the bather 2 is warned. If the bather 2 hears the warning sound or the warning message and removes the submersion sensor 1 from the water in the bathtub 3 within 10 seconds,
"Warning mode" is canceled. If the “warning mode” is not canceled within 10 seconds, the process shifts to the “warning mode”, and a warning signal W indicating that drowning has occurred is transmitted from the antenna 8.

Master unit 4 receives alarm signal W issued from submergence sensor 1 in the "alarm mode" as described above,
Emergency information such as a warning sound or a warning message is output from an output device 6 such as a speaker. The output device 6 is installed in a room or a corridor outside the bathroom, and as a result, a third person such as a housemate is informed that the bather 2 is in a drowning state or the submerged sensor 1 is in a flooded state. I can let you know. Here, when the installation location of the output device 6 is far away from the bathroom, the configuration may be such that the master unit 4 and the output device 6 are connected via wired or wireless communication means. For example, the output device 6 may be a portable device such as a mobile phone terminal. Further, when the bather 2 is a single person, the base unit 4 is connected to a telephone line or the like so that the external device such as a security company or a hospital can communicate with the output device 6, and an alarm sound or sound is output to the external device. An alarm message may be notified.

Hereinafter, a bathroom abnormality detection system 1 according to the present invention will be described.
Embodiment 0 will be described. <First Embodiment> FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of a first embodiment of a bathroom abnormality detection system 10 according to the present invention. Bathroom abnormality detection system 10 including a submergence sensor 1 capable of detecting whether or not a predetermined part of the human body is submerged by being mounted on the human body, and a master unit 4 capable of communicating with submergence sensor 1
, The submergence sensor 1 includes a test start unit 21 for starting a communication test with the master unit 4, a test signal transmission unit 25 for sending a test signal, and a master unit 4 in response to the test signal.
Signal receiving means 2 for receiving a response signal transmitted from
2 and response signal notifying means 23 for determining and notifying the communication function of the submersion sensor 1 based on the reception state of the response signal, and the base unit 4 receiving a test signal from the submergence sensor 1 The communication test is performed by including a means 31, a test signal analyzing means 32 for analyzing a test signal, and a response signal transmitting means 34 for transmitting the analysis result as a response signal to the submersion sensor 1. The master unit may include an analysis result notifying unit 33 that notifies the analysis result. As the test signal transmitting means 25, a communication means originally provided in the submergence sensor 1 is used to report the submerged state to the master unit 4.

In the analysis result notifying means 33, the submergence sensor 1
, The reception of the test signal, whether or not the signal is normal, the radio wave condition, and the like are notified by voice or a display screen. When notifying by voice, the output device 6 such as the speaker described in FIG. 1 may be used. Submersion sensor 1
In response signal notification means 23, whether or not the test signal has been normally received by base unit 4 and whether or not the radio wave condition is good are notified by voice or a display screen. When a test signal is transmitted from the submersion sensor 1 and there is no response signal from the master unit 4 even after a certain period of time has passed, it is notified that the test signal has not been normally received. The transmission of the test signal is preferably performed when the bather 2 enters the bathroom, whereby the communication between the submergence sensor 1 and the master unit 4 is performed even though the submergence sensor 1 detects an accident. There is no problem that the warning signal W cannot be notified because the normal operation cannot be performed.

Test start means 21 for starting a communication test
May be a switch that can be operated by a human. Further, if the test starting means 21 also serves as the main power switch of the submergence sensor 1, power is consumed only when the submergence sensor 1 is used, which is advantageous from the viewpoint of power saving.

<Second Embodiment> FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of a bathroom abnormality detection system 10 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment except that the test starting means 21 of the submergence sensor 1 includes a sensor 5 capable of detecting water or detecting that the bather 2 has immersed in the bathtub 3. However, when the submergence sensor first detects that water is present or that a predetermined part of a person is submerged, the test signal transmitting means transmits a test signal. In the present embodiment, the bather 2 does not need to perform any operation in order to perform the communication test. When the bathing person 2 bathes in the water with shower water or the like, the submergence sensor 1 detects the water, or when the submergence sensor 1 detects that the bather 2 is immersed in the bathtub 3, etc. This is because a test signal is transmitted to the parent device 4.

<Third Embodiment> FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of a bathroom abnormality detection system 10 according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In a bathroom abnormality detection system 10 including a submergence sensor 1 capable of detecting whether or not a predetermined part of a human body is submerged by being mounted on a human body and a master unit 4 capable of communicating with the submergence sensor 1, the submergence sensor 1 Is a test start unit 21 for starting a communication test with the base unit 4, a test signal transmitting unit 25 for transmitting a test signal, and a response signal for receiving a response signal transmitted from the base unit 4 in response to the test signal. A test means for receiving a test signal from the submergence sensor 1 by providing a receiving means 22 and a response signal notifying means 23 for determining and notifying a communication function of the submergence sensor 1 based on a reception state of the response signal; Signal receiving means 31, test signal analyzing means 32 for analyzing a test signal, and response signal transmitting means 3 for transmitting the analysis result to the submersion sensor 1 as a response signal
And at least one of the submergence sensor 1 and the master unit 4 includes a time measuring unit 36 that starts a time measurement at the same time as the submergence sensor 1 transmits the test signal, or when the master unit 4 receives the test signal. A time measuring means 36 for simultaneously starting time measurement is provided. The master unit 4 may include an analysis result notifying unit 33 that notifies the analysis result.
As the test signal transmitting means 25, a communication means originally provided in the submergence sensor 1 is used to report the submerged state to the master unit 4.

FIG. 5 shows that the submergence sensor 1 is
6, the master unit 4 may be provided with the time measuring means 36 as described above, and further, both the submergence sensor 1 and the master unit 4 are provided with the time measuring means 36. You may. If the time measuring means 36 is installed in both, even if one of the time measuring means 36 fails, the other time measuring means 36 can measure the time, so that the reliability of the system is high. preferable.

The submergence sensor 1 further includes a time measurement canceling means 2
4, the bather himself / herself operates the time measurement canceling means 24 when leaving the bathroom, whereby the measurement of the bathroom stay time is stopped. Base unit 4 further includes bathroom occupancy presenting means 35 for presenting that bather 2 is present in the bathroom, bathroom resident time presenting means 37 for presenting the measured bathroom resident time, and bathroom. An abnormality determining means 38 for determining that an accident has occurred in the bather 2 when the staying time exceeds a predetermined threshold value, and an alarming means for issuing an alarm when determining an abnormality.

Test start means 21 for starting a communication test
The time measurement canceling means 24 may be a switch that can be operated by a human. Further, the test start means 21 and the time measurement canceling means 24 may also serve as a main power switch of the submersion sensor 1. By turning on the switch at the start of use of the submergence sensor 1 and turning off the switch at the end of use, no power is consumed when the submergence sensor 1 is not used, which is advantageous from the viewpoint of power saving. Further, the test starting means 21 and the time measurement canceling means 24 may be constituted by a common switch or a main power switch.

The bathroom abnormality detection system 10 of the present embodiment not only detects an accident such as a drowning of the bather 2 in the bathtub 3 by the submergence sensor 1, but also measures the bath stay time by the time measuring means 36, By determining the length of that time,
It is possible to detect a possibility of an accident such as the bather 2 falling down in the washing place outside the bathtub 3.

<Fourth Embodiment> FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of a bathroom abnormality detection system 10 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The configuration is the same as that of the third embodiment except that the test starting means 21 of the submergence sensor 1 includes a sensor 5 capable of detecting water or detecting that the bather 2 has immersed in the bathtub 3. However, when the submergence sensor first detects that water is present or that a predetermined part of a person is submerged, the test signal transmitting means transmits a test signal. In the present embodiment, the bather 2 does not need to perform any operation in order to perform the communication test. When the bathing person 2 bathes in the water with shower water or the like, the submergence sensor 1 detects the water, or when the submergence sensor 1 detects that the bather 2 is immersed in the bathtub 3, etc. This is because a test signal is transmitted to the parent device 4.

The time measurement canceling means 24 may be a switch which can be operated by a human, similarly to the third embodiment. Alternatively, in common with the sensor 5, when the sensor 5 can no longer detect water, or when it is determined that the bather 2 has left the bathtub, the time measurement canceling means 24 is operated after a certain period of time, and the time measurement is performed. It is also possible to stop it.

<Fifth Embodiment> FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram of a bathroom abnormality detection system 10 according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. The third embodiment is the same as the third embodiment except that the time measurement canceling means 40 is provided in the master unit 4. The time measurement canceling means 40
Acting on the bathroom occupancy presenting means 35 and the time measuring means 36, the measurement of the bathroom stay time is stopped and the presentation that the bather 2 is present in the bathroom is stopped. In the present embodiment, the time measurement canceling means 40 is installed in the parent device 4 having a third person, so that the fact that the bather 2 has left the bathroom is indicated by the bather 2.
Unless the determination is made by any other method, the bather 2 is not allowed to leave the bathroom. Thereby, the measurement of the bathroom stay time is not interrupted by the erroneous operation of the water sink sensor 1 by the bather 2.

<Sixth Embodiment> FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram of a bathroom abnormality detection system 10 according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. The configuration is the same as that of the fifth embodiment except that the test starting means 21 of the submergence sensor 1 includes a sensor 5 capable of detecting water or detecting that the bather 2 has immersed in the bathtub 3. However, when the submergence sensor first detects that water is present or that a predetermined part of a person is submerged, the test signal transmitting means transmits a test signal. In the present embodiment, the bather 2 does not need to perform any operation in order to perform the communication test. When the bathing person 2 bathes in the water with shower water or the like, the submergence sensor 1 detects the water, or when the submergence sensor 1 detects that the bather 2 is immersed in the bathtub 3, etc. This is because a test signal is transmitted to the parent device 4.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a bathroom abnormality detection system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a submergence sensor of the bathroom abnormality detection system according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of a first embodiment of a bathroom abnormality detection system according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of a bathroom abnormality detection system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of a bathroom abnormality detection system according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of a bathroom abnormality detection system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram of a bathroom abnormality detection system according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram of a bathroom abnormality detection system according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Submergence sensor 2 Bather 3 Bathtub 4 Base unit 5 Electrode (sensor) 6 Output device 8 Antenna 10 Bathroom abnormality detection system 21 Test start unit 22 Response signal receiving unit 23 Response signal notification unit 24 Time measurement release unit 25 Test signal transmission unit 31 Test signal receiving means 32 Test signal analyzing means 33 Analysis result notifying means 34 Response signal transmitting means 35 Bathroom occupancy presenting means 36 Time measuring means 37 Bathroom staying time presenting means 38 Abnormality judging means 39 Warning means 40 Time measuring canceling means N Necklace W alarm signal

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Hiroaki Izuma 4-1-2, Hirano-cho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Inside Osaka Gas Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hiroshi Shimamura 4-chome, Hirano-cho, Chuo-ku, Osaka, Osaka No. 1-2 Inside Osaka Gas Co., Ltd. (72) Masao Ohne 3-6-35 Jusanhoncho, Yodogawa-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka F-term (reference) 5C087 AA19 AA32 AA37 AA44 BB12 BB20 BB72 BB76 CC11 CC27 CC42 DD03 DD24 EE10 EE18 FF01 FF04 FF13 FF17 FF23 GG08 GG30 GG40 GG51 GG57 GG83 5K048 AA15 BA14 DB01 DC01 EB02 EB10 FA07 FB11 FC03 GB01 GB05 HA01 HA02

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A submergence sensor capable of detecting whether a predetermined part of a human body is submerged by being mounted on the human body,
And a bathroom abnormality detection system comprising a master unit capable of communicating with the submergence sensor, wherein the submergence sensor starts a communication test with the master unit, and a test signal transmission for transmitting a test signal. Means, a response signal receiving means for receiving a response signal transmitted from the master unit in response to the test signal, and determining and notifying a communication function of the submergence sensor based on a reception state of the response signal. A response signal notifying unit, wherein the master unit receives a test signal from the submergence sensor, a test signal receiving unit, a test signal analyzing unit that analyzes the test signal, and the submergence sensor using an analysis result as a response signal. And a response signal transmitting means for transmitting the response signal to the bathroom. 2. The submergence sensor or at least one of the master units includes time measuring means for starting time measurement at the same time as the test signal is transmitted by the submergence sensor, or the master unit receives the test signal. A bathroom abnormality detection system comprising a time measuring means for simultaneously starting time measurement. 3. The test start means is a sensor capable of detecting water or detecting that a predetermined part of a human body is submerged. The test signal transmitting means is configured to detect the test signal in accordance with a first detection result. 3. The bathroom abnormality detection system according to claim 1, wherein: 4. The bathroom according to claim 1, wherein the test start means is a switch operable by a human, and the test signal transmitting means transmits the test signal when the switch is turned on. Anomaly detection system. 5. The bathroom abnormality detection system according to claim 4, wherein the switch also functions as a main power switch of the submergence sensor.