JP2002242269A - Toilet device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a toilet device capable of efficiently lowering power consumption in non-use of a part washing device and the like and always maintaining a good usage environment of the toilet device including a toilet room before use. SOLUTION: This toilet device is provided with an electrically controllable toilet apparatus 5 arranged in the toilet room 2, an information controlling machine 21 arranged on the outside of the toilet for controlling operation of the toilet apparatus and receiving information about it, and a terminal machine 23 transmitting an operation command to the information controlling machine according to the information about the toilet apparatus. In this way, the terminal machine giving the operation command for the toilet apparatus to the information controlling machine can give a proper operation command by previously obtaining information about the toilet apparatus, and consequently, the toilet apparatus and the toilet environment can be set freely from a remote location.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a toilet apparatus capable of always controlling a comfortable toilet environment in advance, and more particularly to a toilet apparatus capable of remotely setting operating conditions of toilet equipment.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, this type of toilet apparatus is disclosed in
As described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 00-179027, there has been a method of turning off the power of a local cleaning device to reduce power consumption while a person is sleeping at night. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the toilet device includes lighting devices 43, 44, 45, 46, 47 provided in each room of a house 42 in a local cleaning device 41 installed on a toilet 40 in a toilet.
A lighting server 48 for detecting an operation state of turning off the light and the local cleaning device 41 are connected via a communication line, and the power of the local cleaning device 41 is turned on based on a light-off signal from all the lighting fixtures from the lighting server 48. It is configured to cut.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional toilet apparatus, when a person is in a room and the lighting fixtures 43 to 43 are used.
As long as any of 46 is lit, the local cleaning device 41
Because of the operating state, the control was not directly related to the use of the toilet, but was a rough control based on the premise that a person would use the toilet device because he was awake.

[0004] Therefore, since the power of the local cleaning device 41 is turned off only by turning off the lighting equipment, the local part of the human body is washed with hot water when using the toilet at night in the winter, early in the morning, or when returning from an outside place. When the local cleaning device 41 is of a hot water storage type, the hot water has a water temperature, feels cold, and causes inconvenience in terms of temperature. In addition, if the user forgets to turn off the lighting fixture in any room, there is a problem that the local cleaning device 41 cannot respond to forgetting to turn off the light while the power is on. That is, it has been difficult to efficiently reduce power consumption and always maintain a good use environment of the toilet apparatus including the toilet room in advance.

[0005] The present invention is to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and to provide a toilet apparatus capable of maintaining a good use environment of the toilet apparatus before use while reducing power consumption. is there.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, a toilet apparatus of the present invention is provided in a toilet room, and is obtained from electrically controllable toilet equipment and the toilet equipment and the toilet equipment environment. And an information controller for controlling the operation of the toilet device according to a command, and a terminal for transmitting an operation command to the information controller based on the information. This allows the terminal not only to issue an operation command to the toilet device with the information control device, but also to obtain information about the environment of the toilet device and the toilet device in advance and to issue an accurate operation command. Equipment and its environment settings can be set freely from a remote location.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A toilet apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention is provided in a toilet room and has electrically controllable toilet equipment, and information obtained from the toilet equipment and the toilet equipment environment. And an information controller for controlling the operation of the toilet equipment, and a terminal for transmitting an operation command to the information controller based on the information.

[0008] In the above embodiment, the person operating the terminal can exchange information bi-directionally with the toilet equipment via the information controller. The driving command can be transmitted accurately based on the information on the environment, and the toilet equipment and its environment can be freely set in advance even from a remote place, so that the toilet can be used comfortably. In addition, energy saving and prevention of forgetting to cut can be freely performed according to the purpose.

In the toilet apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention, the toilet device according to the first aspect, wherein the toilet equipment is a local washing means for washing at least a local part of a human body with hot water, a toilet seat heating means, a room heating means for heating a toilet room, It has a deodorizing means for the toilet and a transmitting / receiving means for communicating with the information controller, and the information is in a standby state of each means of the toilet equipment and its environment.

In the above embodiment, the person operating the terminal can exchange information bidirectionally with the toilet device via the information controller, and the terminal device is a local device which is the toilet device receiving the information controller. Washing means, toilet seat heating means, room heating means, deodorizing means and the operating command can be transmitted accurately based on the standby state of the environment, and each toilet device and its environment setting can save power even from remote locations. The user can freely use the toilet in advance, and can use the toilet comfortably.

That is, in this embodiment, a large amount of electric power is required for heating the hot water used by the local cleaning means, heating the toilet seat heating means and the room heating means, and operating the deodorizing means. For this reason, each of these toilet devices is supplied with a small amount of electric power in advance in consideration of the individual use rising speed, or is cut off to save power when not in use. For example, the heating of the washing water is adjusted at about 40 degrees during use, but in the standby state when not in use,
Lower the temperature to about 20 degrees and heat. In addition, when the toilet seat is not used, the power is cut off to save power when not in use. In other words, the state of the toilet equipment before use, the odor and the temperature of the toilet room before use, and the state of the temperature are set to a standby state as information on the toilet equipment and the toilet equipment environment. Therefore, while saving power, the standby state of the environment is grasped from the outside using each means of the toilet equipment. Can be used. In addition, the ventilation means, the air cleaning means, the fragrance means, the disinfection or sterilization means are also set and used in the same manner as the above-mentioned respective means of the toilet equipment.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the toilet apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the temperature of the toilet room is used as environmental information of the toilet equipment.

In the above embodiment, since the environmental information of the toilet equipment is the temperature of the toilet room, the temperature of the toilet seat heating means and the room heating means can be appropriately set according to individual differences, seasons, etc., so that it is efficient and comfortable. Toilet can be used.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the toilet apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the odor of the toilet room or the toilet is used as environmental information of the toilet device.

In the above embodiment, since the environmental information of the toilet equipment is the odor of the toilet room or the toilet, the deodorizing means or the fragrance means can be appropriately operated in advance, and the toilet can be used efficiently and comfortably. .

In the case where a ventilation device, an air cleaning device, a toilet flushing device, a sterilizing device, and a disinfecting device are provided as the toilet device, this device is also used as environmental information of the toilet device based on the smell of the toilet room from the terminal. It is possible to give an operation command, remove not only smell but also dust, germs and dirt on the toilet, and add functions such as deodorization, aroma, sterilization, and bacteria elimination to the air cleaning means to make the toilet environment even higher. You can also.

In each of the above-described embodiments, a new communication device, a new communication protocol, and the like are incorporated in the information controller by using the intercom as the information controller and the slave unit connectable to the interphone as the terminal. It is not necessary and can be constructed at low cost.

In addition to making the terminal portable, whether the information control device is installed inside or outside the toilet room, when an elderly or handicapped person who needs nursing care uses the toilet, Prior to attending and nursing care, the caregiver can send a driving command to the toilet equipment from the outside of the toilet room using the terminal device, and can concentrate on attending and nursing care. Then, the operation command of the local cleaning means and the toilet cleaning means after using the toilet can be performed outside the toilet room.

If the information controller can be accessed from a plurality of mobile phones or PHS (Personal Handy Phone) terminals, toilet equipment can be provided by a plurality of terminals each belonging to a family. Operation control becomes possible.

Further, a local cleaning means as toilet equipment,
If each means of toilet seat heating means, room heating means, and deodorizing means transmits and receives information to and from the information controller by one transmitting and receiving means, each means exchanges information with the information controller individually by transmitting and receiving means. It is possible to set the environment in the toilet at a lower cost than in the case of doing so.

In the case where the lighting device provided in the toilet room is included as the toilet device, the person operating the terminal controls the lighting device on and off via the information controller even from a remote place such as when going out. It is possible to prevent forgetting to cut and prevent theft by being away from night from a remote place.

[0022]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a toilet apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a view showing a state where the toilet apparatus is provided in a house, and FIG. It is a figure which shows the state provided, and a caregiver operates.

1 to 3, a toilet room 2 of a house 1 is shown.
The toilet bowl 3 is provided with a local cleaning means 4 for cleaning a local part of the human body after the stool with hot water. A toilet seat 6 and a toilet lid 7 are rotatably attached to the main body of the local cleaning means 4, and the toilet lid 7 can be automatically opened and closed manually by a motor. The toilet seat 6 includes a toilet seat heating means 8 capable of controlling the temperature.
And a room heating means 9 having a temperature control function of heating the toilet room 2. The local cleaning means 4 has an instantaneous hot water function of instantly turning the water into hot water when the water flows, and protrudes toward a local part of the human body after the stool to enable washing by spraying hot water, and Has at least one or more local cleaning nozzles 10 mounted so as to be stowable until use.

Further, there are also provided a drying means 11 for injecting hot air into the local part of the human body after the washing and drying, and a deodorizing means 12 for removing the odor of the toilet including in the toilet. In the low tank 13 on the upper back of the toilet 3, a toilet cleaning knob 14 is rotationally controlled by a motor or the like, and water is spouted from the low tank 13 to the inside of the toilet 3 to vigorously drain waste after use. Means 15 are provided, which are operated before and after the stool to prevent the accumulation and smell of waste.

Further, the toilet room 2 is provided with ventilation means 16 such as an electrically controllable ventilation fan and air purifying means 17 such as an air purifier for purifying the air in the toilet room 2. And
The ceiling of the toilet room 2 is provided with lighting means 18 such as lighting equipment.

The local cleaning means 4, the toilet seat heating means 8, the room heating means 9, the drying means 11, the deodorizing means 12, the toilet cleaning means 15, and the ventilation means 1 provided in the toilet room 2 described above.
6, the air purifying means 17, the electric light means 18, and the toilet lid 7 are each toilet equipment 5 for keeping the environment of the toilet room 2 comfortable in the present invention. By connecting, it is possible to transmit information of a standby state which is an operation and a stop.

Outside the toilet room of the house 1, a base unit of an intercom as an information controller 21 having a microcomputer or the like is installed in the adjacent kitchen 19, for example.
The information controller 21 includes a local cleaning unit 4, a toilet seat heating unit 8, a room heating unit 9, which is the toilet device 5 of the toilet room 2,
Dedicated communication capable of bidirectional wired or wireless transmission / reception of information via the drying means 11, the deodorizing means 12, the toilet flushing means 15, the ventilation means 16, the air cleaning means 17, the electric light means 19, and the transmitting / receiving means 20. The means are configured and always receive and store the information of each of the means. And the temperature sensor 22 provided in the toilet room 2 detects the heating temperature of the toilet room 2 as information of the room heating means 9 which is the toilet device 5, and the odor sensor 22 a provided in the toilet room 2 is the toilet device 5. As the information of the deodorizing means 12, the odor of the toilet room 2 is detected and sent to the transmitting / receiving means 20.

A portable terminal 23, which is an intercom slave unit capable of transmitting and receiving information to and from the information controller 21 similarly, is provided. After confirming, based on this, the operation command of the operation and stop of each means is transmitted when the toilet is used, and the remote control is performed.

Although not shown, an analog line adapter of a telephone line is connected to the information controller 21 to convert the terminal 23 into a portable telephone or a PHS, so that the information controller 21 can be remotely connected to the information controller 21 from outside. The range of control can be expanded.

The information controller 21 includes a transmission / reception means 24 connected to the transmission / reception means 20 of the toilet equipment 5, a control means 25 for controlling operation and stop of each means of the toilet equipment 5, and an arithmetic means 26 for the control. , A waiting means of each means which is the toilet equipment 5 is periodically received by a timer (not shown), and a storage means 27 which always stores new information, a display means 28 such as a liquid crystal, and a terminal 23 are connected to an information controller. A terminal storage connection unit 29 and the like when used in the terminal 21 are provided.

The terminal 23 operates / stops the transmitting / receiving means 30 connected to the transmitting / receiving means 24 of the information controller 21, the selecting means 31 for selecting each of the means as the toilet equipment 5, and the selected means. Control means 32 for confirming the command of the selected means and the information of the selected means before giving the command, setting means 3 for giving commands such as operation and stop of the selected means.
3. It is provided with a display means 34 such as a liquid crystal or the like for displaying the confirmed information, the command, etc. each time.

FIG. 2 schematically shows the above-described toilet apparatus of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 when it is disposed in a house 1 and shows a state of use by a user 36.
FIG. 3 also shows a use state in the relationship between a person 37 requiring care and a caregiver 38.

Next, the operation and operation will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the user 36 has the portable terminal 23 and operates the terminal 23 from the kitchen 22 outside the toilet room 2 of the house 1 or a remote place such as a destination or a travel destination. . That is, each toilet device 5 in the toilet room 2 is turned off for power saving or is supplied with a small amount of power in advance in consideration of the individual use rising speed, the temperature of the toilet seat and the temperature of hot water. is there. For example, the heating of the toilet room is energized when it is used, but is turned off when it is not used, or the energization of heating is started a predetermined time before use. Alternatively, when the washing water is used, it is heated at 40 degrees, but when not used, it is heated at 20 degrees to save power.

Therefore, the user operates the selecting means 31 of the terminal 23 depending on the purpose of use, such as whether to use the toilet or to turn on the electric light means 18 to make it appear that the user is not away from the crime prevention. Means 30, the transmitting / receiving means 24 of the information controller 21, the control means 25, the arithmetic means 26, the storage means 27, etc., are transmitted and received, and the current information of each toilet device 5 necessary for the purpose of use is stored in advance in indoor information. It is received from the controller 21 and displayed on the display means 34 for confirmation.

Then, the user 36 operates the setting means 33 to make the desired (the temperature of the room according to the user's preference,
An operation command including a change in setting (power, temperature, smell, etc. of the washing water) is transmitted from the terminal 23 to the information controller 21 as shown by an arrow. The information controller 21 controls the control means 2 in accordance with the operation command.
5. Transmission / reception means 2 on the toilet equipment 5 side, such as transmission / reception means 24
An operation command is transmitted to each of the necessary toilet devices 5 in the toilet room 2 through the address 0. Then, each toilet device 5 is driven based on a driving command desired by the user 36.

That is, if the purpose is crime prevention, the lighting means 18 is turned on. In the case of power saving, the energization of each toilet device 5 that is forgotten to be turned off is cut off. In the case of a stool, a comfortable toilet room 2 with a temperature suitable for taste and an unobtrusive air is provided in advance by the room heating means 9, the ventilation means 16, the air cleaning means 17, the deodorizing means 12, the toilet seat heating means 8 and the like. The environment is prepared. After the user enters the toilet room 2, the user operates the operation unit (not shown) provided in the terminal 23 or the toilet 3 which was carried by the user, and the local cleaning means 4, the drying means 11, and the like. The deodorizing means 12 and the toilet flushing means 15 are operated to clean and dry the human body part, discharge waste, and prepare an environment after use of the toilet room 2. Finally, the terminal 23 is operated to cut off the power supply to the unnecessary toilet devices 5.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the communication between the terminal 23 operated by a person, the information controller 21 as an information server, and each toilet device 5 is performed using a wireless or wired or a mixed wireless and wired communication means. It is possible to send and receive a desired driving command and to remotely set the operating environment and the toilet environment of each toilet device 5, as well as to use the toilet room 2 in advance. The terminal 23 transmits the information on the current state of each toilet device 5 to the information controller 21.
The user can send a driving command to each of the intended toilet devices 5 based on the information and changing the conditions to the user's preference, so that the operating environment and the toilet environment of each toilet device 5 must be set in advance. You can use the toilet freely and comfortably. Also, it can be freely set according to the purpose, such as power saving, prevention of forgetting to cut, security, and the like.

Also, as shown in FIG. 3, the present invention can exert its features when a person in need of nursing care uses a toilet. In other words, before the caregiver 38 attends and cares for the toilet at the time of the intention of the caregiver 37 or the time formed based on the life rhythm of the caregiver, the caregiver 38 sends the information to each toilet device 5 with the terminal 23. On the other hand, the information can be confirmed and the operation command can be transmitted from outside the toilet room. Thereafter, the caregiver concentrates on the attending care and guides the person to the toilet room 2 so that the caregiver can sit on the toilet seat 6 with the automatically opened and closed toilet lid 7 and have the caregiver 37 use the toilet. Then, the operation command of the local cleaning means 4, the toilet cleaning means 15, and the like after using the toilet can be performed outside the toilet room.

In particular, attending care at midnight and the caregiver themselves confirm the information of each toilet device 5 in advance on the bed and transmit a driving command. If the terminal 23 can be turned on, the toilet can be used extremely safely.

In the present invention, since the temperature of the toilet room 2 is detected by the temperature sensor 22 and the detection signal is stored in the information controller 21 through the transmission / reception means 20 and used as information on the toilet equipment environment, the toilet seat heating means is particularly provided. 8. Room heating means 9
The temperature can be set appropriately according to individual differences and seasons, and the toilet can be used efficiently and comfortably.

In this embodiment, the odor sensor 22a
Thus, the odor in the toilet room 2 is detected, and the detection signal is stored in the information controller 21 through the transmission / reception means 20 and used as information on the toilet equipment environment. The toilet can be used properly and comfortably. Of course, if necessary, ventilation means 1
6, the air purifying means 17 and the fragrance means may of course be operated.
May be provided in the toilet 3.

Although the number of the terminals 23 is not particularly mentioned in the above embodiment, a plurality of the terminals 23 can be used for the toilet device. Also, the personal identification means is stored in the terminal 23, and the personal identification means and the condition setting data such as the preference of each toilet device 5 are also registered in the information control device 21. When the personal identification is inputted by the operation means 33 at 23, the information controller 21
If the personal identification is further extracted, collated and matched, the operation of each toilet device 5 can be automatically controlled based on the registered condition setting data, and the operation on the terminal 23 becomes easy. .

In the above embodiment, the transmitting and receiving means 20 and 24 are provided on the information controller 21 and the toilet equipment 5 side, respectively. It is also possible to make one.

Further, a deodorizing means is provided in the toilet room 2 as the toilet equipment 5, and can be placed under the control and control of the information controller 21 and the terminal 23 in the same manner as other toilet equipment 5. For example, deodorization can be performed before and after using the toilet, and a more comfortable environment can be set in advance.

In the above embodiment, the temperature and the odor are detected by using the temperature sensor and the odor sensor as the information on the toilet equipment environment. However, the energization of the room heating means, the deodorizing means, the ventilation means and the air cleaning means is directly performed. Alternatively, the information may be based on the state in which the power is turned off.

[0047]

As described above, according to the toilet apparatus of the present invention, not only the terminal issues an operation command to the toilet equipment with the information controller but also obtains the information of the toilet equipment in advance and obtains an accurate information. Operation commands can be issued, and the use environment of the toilet equipment and the toilet environment setting can be set freely from a remote location, efficiently reducing power consumption and always improving the use environment of the toilet equipment including the toilet room in advance. Can be kept.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a toilet device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state where the toilet device is provided in a house.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the toilet device is provided in a house and operated by a caregiver.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a conventional toilet device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 4 Local Cleaning Means 5 Toilet Equipment 8 Toilet Seat Heating Means 9 Room Heating Means 11 Drying Means 12 Deodorizing Means 15 Toilet Washing Means 16 Ventilation Means 18 Electric Light Means 21 Information Controller 22 Temperature Sensor 22a Odor Sensor 23 Terminal

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Eiichi Tanaka 1006 Kazuma Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Shigeru Yamazaki 1006 Okadoma Kadoma Kadoma City, Osaka Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. 72) Inventor Shinya Nakagawa 1006 Kazuma Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture F-term in Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (reference) 2D037 AD01 EA03 2D038 BB00 BC01 JH00 KA12 2D039 CD02 CD03 DA00

Claims (4)

[Claims] An information controller provided in a toilet room and electrically controllable; and an information controller having information obtained from the toilet device and the environment of the toilet device, and controlling operation of the toilet device by a command. A terminal device for transmitting an operation command to the information controller based on the information. 2. The toilet equipment has at least a local washing means for washing a local part of a human body with hot water, a toilet seat heating means, a room heating means for heating a toilet room, a deodorizing means for a toilet, and a transmitting / receiving means with an information controller. 2. The toilet apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is in a standby state of each means of the toilet equipment and its environment. 3. The toilet apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the temperature of the toilet room is used as environmental information of the toilet equipment. 4. The toilet apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the odor of the toilet room or the toilet is used as environmental information of the toilet device.