JP2001353098A - Toilet apparatus with human body detecting function - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve an inconvenience of automatic closure of a toilet seat cover when the user remains at rest in front of a toilet stool over a long period of time, the inconvenience being caused by a pyroelectric infrared sensor or an ultrasonic sensor which detects motion of a human body. SOLUTION: There is provided a toilet apparatus with a human body detecting function, which has the toilet seat cover 5 electrically driven for opening and closing, a toilet seat 4 electrically driven for ascendable opening and descendable closing a pressure sensitive portion 8 placed on a floor of a toilet, a determining section 9 for determining the state of the user in response to a signal from the pressure sensitive portion 8, and determining the positions of the toilet seat cover 5 and the toilet seat 4, and a driving control section 10 for driving the toilet seat cover 5 and the toilet seat 4 for opening and closing or ascendable opening and descendable closing in response to an output from the determining section 9. Thus, the toilet seat cover 5 and the toilet seat 4 can be correctly opened or closed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention aims to save labor when using a style toilet by automatically opening a toilet seat cover when a human body is detected, and automatically opening and closing the toilet seat as needed. The present invention relates to a toilet with a human body detection function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional toilet with a human body detection function of this type automatically detects a person standing in front of the toilet by detecting a human body using a pyroelectric infrared sensor or an ultrasonic sensor, and automatically sets a toilet seat cover. There was something to open. However, pyroelectric infrared sensors and ultrasonic sensors can only detect changes in the movement of a person in terms of points, not the posture of the person, but also the direction of movement of the person, and whether a person has entered or left. Because it is not clear, the toilet seat cover is opened for the time being to capture changes in human movement in the initial state, and the toilet seat cover is closed when the human movement cannot be detected by the pyroelectric infrared sensor or ultrasonic sensor for a certain period of time. It was to return to.

As a method of detecting a human body by using an image, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 7-236593, an image in a toilet space is captured by a camera, and the behavior and posture of the human body are identified to determine the manner of excretion. The toilet seat is opened and closed based on the result of the determination.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional configuration, even if the toilet door is opened only by other tasks, the toilet seat cover may be opened or the long seat may be opened for detecting the human body by the pyroelectric infrared or ultrasonic sensor. The toilet seat cover sometimes closed if you were not moving in front of the toilet for hours.
Further, the toilet seat cover can be automatically opened and closed, but the toilet seat must be raised and lowered by hand. Therefore, even if the toilet seat cover is automatically opened, it is necessary to bend down and lift the toilet seat to raise the toilet seat.

Further, the method of recognizing the action and posture of the human body from an image requires a large-scale image analysis processing device, and cannot be easily realized in a toilet in a general household.

The inventors differ in the position of their feet in front of a user's toilet when a person performs an excretion in a standing position in front of a toilet bowl, and when a person performs an excretion in a sitting position. We paid attention to. By detecting the position of the user's feet with a pressure-sensitive sensor, it is possible to accurately judge human actions with a very simple structure that has never been seen before, and automatically move the toilet seat cover and toilet seat up and down to save labor when excreting. It is intended to aim at.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, a toilet with a human body detecting function according to the present invention is provided with a toilet seat cover which opens and closes electrically, a toilet seat which rises and lowers and opens and closes electrically, and is placed on the floor of the toilet. A pressure sensing unit, a determination unit that receives a signal from the pressure sensing unit to determine a state of a person to determine the position of the toilet seat cover and the toilet seat, and that the output of the determination unit opens or closes the toilet seat cover and the toilet seat. It is composed of a drive control unit that moves up and down.

[0008] This allows the toilet seat cover to be opened only when a person is standing in front of the toilet and the toilet seat can be raised and lowered and opened and closed according to the state of the signal from the pressure sensing section. The toilet can be used without the need.

[0009]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a toilet seat cover which can be opened and closed by an electric motor; A determination unit that receives a signal from the pressure sensing unit to determine a state of a person and determines a position of the toilet seat cover and the toilet seat, and a drive that opens and closes or opens and closes the toilet seat cover and the toilet seat according to an output of the determination unit. The toilet seat cover can be opened only when a person stands in front of the toilet because of the control unit.

[0010] According to a second aspect of the present invention, the toilet seat cover is opened by a signal generated when the user stands on the pressure-sensitive part, and the user stands on the pressure-sensitive part. If the occasional signal lasts for a predetermined time or more, it is not necessary to touch the toilet seat by raising the toilet seat.

The invention according to claim 3 has a seating sensor for detecting that a person is sitting on the toilet seat. When the seating sensor detects the seating of a person, the toilet seat is not raised and the toilet seat is not raised. By not lowering the cover, it is possible to prevent the toilet seat from going up while the seat is sitting and the toilet seat cover from closing.

The invention according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is to prevent the user from raising the toilet seat if the intermittent state of the signal generated when the user stands on the pressure sensing unit for a predetermined time or more continues. Can be seated without raising the toilet seat in anticipation of sitting.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a toilet seat cover that opens and closes electrically, a toilet seat that opens and closes electrically, a pressure-sensitive part placed on the floor of a toilet, and a signal from the pressure-sensitive part are received. And a drive control unit that opens and closes or opens and closes the toilet seat cover and the toilet seat based on the output of the determination unit. When the toilet seat cover is opened and the toilet seat is raised by a signal generated when the user stands on the pressure unit, the toilet seat cover and the toilet seat can be raised without touching at all.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, when a user detects an intermittent state of a signal generated when the user stands on the pressure sensing portion, the user lowers the toilet seat to touch the raised toilet seat. It can be lowered without.

Further, according to the present invention, the toilet seat cover and the toilet seat are returned to an initial state when a signal generated when a person stands on the floor does not come from the pressure-sensitive portion for a certain period of time.
You can remove the toilet seat cover and toilet seat without touching it at all.

[0016]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a structural view of a toilet space according to one embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 3 denotes a toilet bowl.
The toilet seat 4 and the toilet seat cover 5 are attached to the upper part of the seat.
FIG. 1 shows the toilet seat 4 and the toilet seat cover 5 in an open state.
6 is a water tank. 7 is a toilet mat placed in front of the toilet 3. Reference numeral 8 denotes a pressure sensor, and the toilet mat 7
It is placed under. The pressure-sensitive sensor 8 is fixed at a position where a person can stand on the left side or the right side of the toilet when standing in front of the toilet bowl with the toilet mat 7 interposed therebetween. Reference numeral 9 denotes a determination unit that receives a signal from the pressure sensor 8 and determines the behavior state of a person. Reference numeral 10 denotes a drive control unit that opens and closes the toilet seat 4 and the toilet seat cover 5 based on the output of the determination unit 9. Reference numeral 11 denotes a seating switch attached to the back side of the toilet seat 4, which detects that a person is sitting by being caught between the toilet seat 4 and the upper surface 3 a of the toilet 3 when a person sits on the toilet seat 4.

Reference numeral 20 denotes a position of a foot when a person stands in front of the toilet bowl 3, and when a person stands in front of the toilet as shown in FIG. Left foot is placed. Reference numeral 21 denotes the position of the feet when the person is seated on the toilet seat 4 from when the back is turned to the toilet seat 4 of the toilet seat 3 in order to sit down on the toilet seat 4. When a person tries to sit down on the toilet seat 4 or sits down, both feet are slightly opened right and left, so that neither the left foot nor the right foot is placed on the pressure sensor 8 as shown in FIG.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show the structure of the pressure-sensitive sensor 8 placed under the toilet mat 7. FIG. FIG. 2 (a)
3 is a perspective view of the pressure-sensitive sensor 8. FIG. As shown in the figure, the pressure-sensitive sensor 8 has a rectangular shape in which the center is slightly bulged, and the signal lines 12a and 12b are drawn out from one short side on one side. FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating the pressure sensor 8 in FIG.
It is -A 'sectional drawing. In FIG. 2B, reference numerals 14a and 14b denote rubber elastic bodies, which are attached to each other on both right and left sides shown in FIG. 2B. Reference numerals 15a and 15b denote rubber conductors which are fixed to the inner surfaces of the rubber elastic bodies 14a and 14b.
As shown in FIG. 2B, electrical insulation is maintained while facing the cavity 17 therebetween. However, toilet mat 7
When a person stands above the pressure-sensitive sensor 8 under the pressure, a force as shown by arrows 16a and 16b is applied, and the rubber conductor 1
5a and 15b are in contact and electrically conductive. FIG.
Since the signal line 12a shown in (a) is connected to the rubber conductor 15a and the signal line 12b is connected to the rubber conductor 15b, arrows 16a and 16b
When such a force is applied, the signal line 12a and the signal line 12b conduct. Therefore, when a person stands on the toilet mat 7 in front of the toilet 3, the pressure-sensitive sensor 8 is pressed by the weight of the person and the signal line 12 is pressed.
and the signal line 12b becomes conductive. Note that the pressure-sensitive sensor 8 is not limited to the illustrated structure, and various types can be used.

Next, the operation will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of one embodiment of the present invention. The flowchart of FIG. 3 shows a procedure in which only the toilet seat cover is raised as soon as a person stands in front of the toilet, and the toilet seat is further raised when the standing state continues for a certain period of time or longer. S in FIG.
Step 1 indicates an initialized state, in which the toilet seat 4 and the toilet seat cover 5 are closed. In step 2, the state of the pressure-sensitive sensor 8 is checked. If the signal line 12a and the signal line 12b are conducted, it is detected that a person is standing on the toilet mat 7, and the process proceeds to step 3. If the signal line 12a and the signal line 12b of the pressure-sensitive sensor 8 are not conducting, the process returns to the beginning of step 2.

In step 3, it is determined that the person is standing in front of the toilet, and first, the toilet seat cover 5 is opened. step4 and st
In ep5, the signal lines 12a and 12b of the pressure-sensitive sensor 8
The conduction duration is counted while checking the conduction state of. In step 6, the conduction state between the signal line 12a and the signal line 12b of the pressure-sensitive sensor 8 is set for a predetermined time T.
It is checked whether it has exceeded 1 second, and if it has not yet reached T1 second, the process returns to the beginning of step 4. When the time exceeds T1 seconds, the person determines that the person excretes in a standing posture and raises the toilet seat 4. T1 may be, for example, about 2 seconds.

Step 8 is a process after determining that the act of excretion is performed in a standing posture.
The continuity between the signal line 12a and the signal line 12b is checked, and while the continuity exists, it is determined that the person is still standing in front of the toilet, and the process returns to the beginning of step 8 with the toilet seat 4 raised. Signal line 12 of pressure sensor 8
When the electrical connection between a and the signal line 12b is lost, the excretion act ends, and the process proceeds to step 9 to confirm again whether or not the person has left the toilet. In step 9, the time since the conduction of the pressure sensor 8 is lost is counted, and s
Proceed to step 10. Step 10 checks whether or not the time count after the conduction of the pressure-sensitive sensor 8 has exceeded a predetermined time T2 seconds. If not, the process returns to the beginning of step 8; Decided that she was no longer in the bathroom,
And the toilet seat 4 and the toilet seat cover 5 are closed. T2
May be, for example, about 60 seconds.

When conduction is detected in step 8, the time count for measuring T2 seconds may be reset once, and the process may return to the beginning of step 8.

On the other hand, if the continuity between the signal line 12a and the signal line 12b of the pressure-sensitive sensor 8 disappears within T1 second in step 4, the process proceeds to step 12, and it is determined whether or not a person is sitting on the toilet seat 4 based on the signal from the seating sensor 11. Find out. s
When seating is detected in step 12, it is determined that the user is excreting in a sitting posture, and the procedure returns to the beginning of step 12, and the open state of the toilet seat cover 5 and the closed state of the toilet seat 4 are maintained. When the seating is not detected, the process proceeds to step 13 and the time from when the seating is stopped is counted. In step 14, it is checked whether or not the time after the seating has been removed has exceeded a predetermined time T3 seconds. If it has exceeded, it is determined that the person has left the toilet, and the process returns to step 1 and the toilet seat cover 5 is set to the initial position. return. T3 may be, for example, about 60 seconds. When the seating is detected in step 12, the time count for the T3 second measurement may be reset once, and then the process may return to the beginning of step 12.

As described above, as soon as a person stands in front of the toilet bowl, the toilet seat cover can be automatically opened, and there is no need to bend down and open the toilet seat cover. In addition, if the person stands in front of the toilet bowl for a certain period of time determined in advance, the toilet seat can be automatically raised, and similarly, there is no need to bend down and raise the toilet seat. In addition, since it has a seating sensor that detects that a person is sitting on the toilet seat, when the seating sensor detects the seating of a person, the toilet seat may try to rise or the toilet seat cover may close. Absent. Also, if the intermittent state of the signal that occurs when the user stands on the pressure sensing section for a predetermined time or more continues, the user does not raise the toilet seat in anticipation that the user will be seated. Can be. Also, when the signal of the pressure sensing part or the seating detection signal when a person is standing in front of the toilet is not present for a certain period of time, the toilet seat cover and the toilet seat are returned to the initial state, so that the toilet seat cover can be There is no need to remove the toilet seat.

In the flowchart according to the first procedure shown in FIG. 3, as soon as a person stands in front of the toilet bowl 3, the toilet seat cover 5
In the case where it is determined that the standing state continues for a certain period of time or more by looking at the conduction state of the pressure-sensitive sensor 8 and the toilet seat 4 is further raised, the other procedure is as follows. As soon as a person stands in front of the toilet 3 in the toilet, both the toilet seat cover 5 and the toilet seat 4 are raised, and when the conduction of the pressure-sensitive sensor 8 is lost again, it is determined that the person is about to move to the sitting position, and the toilet seat 5 is released. A second procedure of lowering is also possible.

FIG. 4 shows that as soon as a person stands in front of the toilet bowl 3, both the toilet seat cover 5 and the toilet seat 4 are raised, and when the pressure sensor 8 is no longer conductive, the person is about to move to a sitting position. It is a flowchart by the 2nd procedure which judges and lowers the toilet seat 5. Step 21 in FIG. 4 shows an initialized state, in which the toilet seat 4 and the toilet seat cover 5 are closed. At step 22, the state of the pressure-sensitive sensor 8 is checked. If the signal line 12a and the signal line 12b are conducted, it is detected that a person is standing on the toilet mat 7, and the process proceeds to step 23. If the signal lines 12a and 12b of the pressure-sensitive sensor 8 are not conducting, st
Return to the beginning of ep22.

In step 23, it is determined that the person is standing in front of the toilet, and the toilet seat cover 5 and the toilet seat 4 are opened. step2
In steps 4 and 25, the duration of non-conduction is counted while checking the conduction state of the signal lines 12a and 12b of the pressure-sensitive sensor 8. In step 26, it is checked whether or not the non-conduction state between the signal line 12a and the signal line 12b of the pressure-sensitive sensor 8 has exceeded a predetermined time T4 seconds.
If the time has not reached T4 seconds, the process returns to the beginning of step 24. When the time exceeds T4 seconds, it is determined that the person excretes in a sitting posture, and the toilet seat 4 is lowered. T4 may be, for example, about 2 seconds.

Step 28 is a process after judging that the act of excretion is performed in a sitting posture. The state of the seating sensor 11 is checked, and it is judged that a person is still sitting on the toilet seat 4 while the seating sensor is detecting. Step with the toilet seat cover 5 raised
Return to the beginning of 28. When the detection signal of the seating sensor 11 disappears, the excretion act ends, and the process proceeds to step 29 to confirm again whether or not the person has left the toilet. In step 29, the time from when the detection output of the seating sensor 11 is lost is counted, and the process proceeds to step 30.
Step 30 checks whether or not the time count after the detection output of the seating sensor 11 has been exceeded has exceeded a predetermined time T5 seconds.
Returning to the beginning of step 28, if the time exceeds T5 seconds, it is determined that the person has not left the toilet, and the operation returns to the initial state of step 21 to close the toilet seat 4 and the toilet seat cover 5. T5 may be, for example, about 60 seconds.

When the conduction is detected in step 28, the time count for measuring T5 seconds may be reset once, and then the process may return to the beginning of step 28.

On the other hand, in step 24, the pressure-sensitive sensor 8
When the continuity between the signal lines 12a and 12b is restored within T4 seconds, the process proceeds to step 32, where the pressure-sensitive sensor 8
It is checked from the traffic light whether or not a person is standing in front of the toilet 3. If it is detected in step 32 that a person is standing, it is determined that the person is excreting in a standing posture, and step
At the beginning of p32, the open state of the return toilet seat cover 5 and the open state of the toilet seat 4 are maintained. When the standing position is no longer detected, step 33
Then, count the time since the standing position is lost. s
In step 34, it is checked whether or not the time after the standing position has exceeded a predetermined time T6 seconds.
If it exceeds, it is judged that the person has left the toilet,
Returning to step 21, the toilet seat cover 5 is returned to the initial position. T
6 may be, for example, about 60 seconds. When the standing position is detected in step 32, the time count for the T6 second measurement may be reset once, and then the process may return to the beginning of step 32.

As described above, the state of the person is determined by receiving the signal from the pressure-sensitive portion, and the signal generated when the user stands on the pressure-sensitive portion opens the toilet seat cover and raises the toilet seat. Thus, the toilet seat cover and the toilet seat can be raised without touching the hand at all, and the excretion act can be quickly performed in the standing posture. In addition, when detecting the intermittent state of the signal generated when the user stands on the pressure-sensitive part, the toilet seat is lowered, so that the toilet seat once raised can be lowered without touching the hand to perform the excretion in a sitting posture. it can.

Whether the first procedure shown in the flow chart of FIG. 3 or the second procedure shown in the flow chart of FIG. 4 is to be adopted is switched to the determination unit 9 so as to match the user's preference. May be provided.

[0034]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, in a Western-style toilet having a toilet seat cover that opens and closes electrically and a toilet seat that opens and closes electrically, a pressure-sensitive portion placed on the floor of the toilet is provided. A determination unit that receives a signal from the pressure sensing unit to determine a state of a person and determines a position of the toilet seat cover and the toilet seat, and a drive that opens and closes or opens and closes the toilet seat cover and the toilet seat according to an output of the determination unit. A toilet with a human body detection function that can be opened only when a person stands in front of the toilet, which is constituted by a control unit, can be realized.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the toilet seat cover is opened by a signal generated when a user stands on the pressure-sensitive portion, and the user places the toilet seat cover on the pressure-sensitive portion. When the signal generated when standing up continues for a predetermined time or more, the user does not need to touch the toilet seat by raising the toilet seat.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a seating sensor for detecting that a person is sitting on the toilet seat,
By not raising the toilet seat when the seating sensor detects the seating of a person, the toilet seat cover does not close during seating.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the toilet seat is not raised if the signal intermittent state generated when the user stands on the pressure sensing unit for a predetermined time or more continues. It is possible for the user to sit down without raising the toilet seat in anticipation of sitting.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, in a Western-style toilet having a toilet seat cover that opens and closes electrically and a toilet seat that opens and closes electrically, a pressure-sensitive portion placed on the floor of the toilet, A determination unit that determines the position of the toilet seat cover and the toilet seat by determining a state of a person in response to a signal from the unit;
The output of the determination unit comprises a drive control unit that opens and closes or opens and closes the toilet seat cover and the toilet seat. The signal generated when a user stands on the pressure-sensitive unit opens the toilet seat cover and opens the toilet seat. By setting it in the raised state, the toilet seat cover and the toilet seat can be raised without touching at all.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, when detecting the intermittent state of the signal generated when the user stands on the pressure-sensitive portion, the toilet seat is lowered, so that the user can place the hand on the toilet seat once raised. It can be lowered without touching.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, when a signal generated when a person stands on the floor does not come from the pressure-sensitive part for a certain period of time, the toilet seat cover and the toilet seat are returned to the initial state, so that the hand can be completely removed. You can remove the toilet seat cover and toilet seat without touching it.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a toilet with a human body detection function according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2A is an external view of the same pressure-sensitive sensor. FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of the same pressure-sensitive sensor.

FIG. 3 is a control flowchart according to a first procedure of the determination unit.

FIG. 4 is a control flowchart according to a second procedure of the determination unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 3 toilet 4 toilet seat 5 toilet seat cover 6 water tank 7 toilet mat 8 pressure-sensitive sensor 9 determination unit 10 drive control unit 11 seating sensor

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Koji Yoshino 1006 Kadoma Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture Inside Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. 72) Inventor Kazunari Nishii 1006 Kadoma Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture F-term in Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (Reference) 2D037 AB05 AC01 AD16

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A toilet seat cover that opens and closes electrically, a toilet seat that opens and closes electrically, a pressure-sensitive part placed on the floor of a toilet, and a signal from the pressure-sensitive part to determine a state of a person and determine the state of a person. A determination unit that determines the position of the cover and the toilet seat, and a drive control unit that opens and closes or opens and closes the toilet seat cover and the toilet seat according to the output of the determination unit, and is generated when a user stands on the pressure-sensitive unit. A toilet with a human body detection function that opens the toilet seat cover in response to a signal. 2. A toilet seat cover is opened by a signal generated when the user stands on the pressure-sensitive part, and a signal generated when the user stands on the pressure-sensitive part is equal to or longer than a predetermined time. The toilet with a human body detection function according to claim 1, wherein the toilet seat is raised when the toilet is continued. 3. A seating sensor for detecting that a person is sitting on a toilet seat, wherein the seating sensor is not raised and the toilet seat cover is not lowered when the seating sensor detects the seating of a person.
A toilet with a human body detection function as described. 4. The toilet with a human body detection function according to claim 1, wherein the toilet seat is not raised if a signal generated when the user stands on the pressure-sensitive part for a predetermined time or more continues. 5. A toilet seat cover which is electrically opened and closed, a toilet seat which is electrically moved up and down, a pressure-sensitive portion placed on a floor of a toilet, and a state of a person is determined by receiving a signal from the pressure-sensitive portion. A determination unit that determines the position of the cover and the toilet seat, and a drive control unit that opens and closes or opens and closes the toilet seat cover and the toilet seat according to the output of the determination unit, and is generated when a user stands on the pressure-sensitive unit. A toilet with a human body detecting function that opens the toilet seat cover and raises the toilet seat according to a signal. 6. The toilet seat is lowered when an intermittent state of a signal generated when the user stands on the pressure sensing part is detected.
A toilet with a human body detection function as described. 7. The human body detecting function according to claim 1, wherein the toilet seat cover and the toilet seat are returned to an initial state when a signal generated when a person stands on the upper side does not come from the pressure sensing portion for a certain period of time. toilet.