JP2003021677A - Sensor device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an object detection device capable of improving detection accuracy of a detection object at a small distance which is standing still or moving slowly, and having a comparatively simple device constitution and a comparatively low cost. SOLUTION: This device has one transmission part for transmitting a radio wave to the object, and two or more reception parts for receiving a reflected wave from the object. The device also has a phase difference generation means for generating the phase difference so that each phase of output signals outputted from each reception part does not agree completely with each other, and a frequency extraction part for extracting two specific frequency bands from one output signal outputted from the reception part. In the device, not only the output signals having different phases but also the output signals having a specific frequency band are taken out. Determination of approaching/ separation is performed relative to the signal having a high frequency, and the signal having a low frequency is used as an auxiliary output signal for the output signal having a different phase, to thereby detect existence of the object more accurately.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sensor device for sensing an object by transmitting and receiving radio waves, which is suitable for determining the presence or absence of the object. In particular, the present invention relates to a device that accurately senses an object such as a human body that is at a short distance from a sensor device or has a slow moving speed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, pulse radars, FM-CW radars and the like are known as devices for detecting an object by using transmission and reception of radio waves. The pulse radar is the distance from the device to the target object depending on the length / short time from the time when the pulsed radio wave is emitted to the time when the pulsed radio wave hits the target object and is reflected and returned to the device. Is measured. Further, the FM-CW radar measures the beat frequencies of a transmission signal and a reflection signal generated by subjecting a continuous wave (CW) signal radiated from the device to frequency modulation (FM) with, for example, a sawtooth wave. Then, the distance from the device to the object is measured.

Further, when detecting an object that is stationary or has a slow moving speed at a short distance, there has been a method in which a phase difference is generated between a plurality of output signals for detection.

[0004]

The pulse radar described above measures the distance from the device to the object by the length / shortness of the time from the time when the radio wave is emitted to the time when the radio wave is received. Therefore, it is not suitable for distance measurement when the target object exists at a short distance. Moreover, there is a problem that the device configuration is relatively complicated and expensive. On the other hand, the FM-CW radar is configured to obtain the distance from the device to the target object by measuring the beat frequencies of the transmission signal and the reflection signal caused by the signal processing as described above. Therefore, when the target object is present at a short distance, the frequency needs to be changed greatly, and the occupied frequency bandwidth of the transmission signal is widened, which is also unsuitable. Moreover, similar to the pulse radar, there is a problem that the device configuration is relatively complicated and expensive. Therefore, a method of using a Doppler radar as a means for detecting an object has been studied instead of the pulse radar or FM-CW radar described above. However, the Doppler radar is very effective when detecting an object that moves at high speed such as an aircraft or an automobile, but the detection target is, for example, the human body, and even just before the toilet when trying to use it in the toilet. There is a problem that it may stand still in a sensing area such as standing still, and is unsuitable for detecting a human body having a slow moving speed. Therefore, when detecting an object such as a human body that has a slow moving speed or is in a stationary state, a radio wave belonging to a predetermined frequency band is radiated to the target object,
A method of detecting a target object by receiving a standing wave generated by the radiated radio wave and a radio wave that is reflected by the target object and returned to the target object, and measures the intensity of the standing wave. Was considered. However, as a problem when performing detection by measuring the strength of the standing wave, the standing wave is 1 /
Since the abdomen and the small node having large amplitude are periodically present in two cycles, the strength of the standing wave does not uniquely correspond to the distance from the device to the object, and should therefore be the sensing area. The human body at a certain distance could not be detected.

Further, when detecting an object such as a human body having a slow moving speed or a stationary state, a phase difference is generated between output signals from a plurality of antennas, and the presence or absence of an object is judged by the output level. Although a method of performing detection using the method described above was also considered, even when this method is used, a large node may occur in the number of antennas. The effect was significant.

Therefore, the present invention provides a sensor device which has a relatively simple device configuration and a relatively low cost, which further improves the detection accuracy of an object that is stationary or has a slow moving speed at a short distance. It is in.

[0007]

Means for Solving the Problems and Actions / Effects In order to achieve the above object, a sensor device according to the present invention includes a transmitter for transmitting radio waves as a transmission signal and a receiver for receiving radio waves from outside as a reception signal. And a mixer unit that mixes the transmission signal and the reception signal, wherein the mixer unit determines the position of the transmission signal and the reception signal in the sensor device that determines the presence or absence of an object based on the output signal from the mixer unit. It consists of multiple mixers that mix in different phase differences,
Further, it has a frequency extraction unit for extracting a specific frequency band from one output signal of the plurality of mixer units, and the signal strength output from the plurality of mixer units and the signal output from the frequency extraction unit. The feature is that the presence or absence of the object is determined from the intensity. The output signal from the mixer section includes the Doppler component, although the standing wave component is dominant. With such a configuration, the presence or absence of the object is not detected only by the signal of the standing wave component which is the signal output from the plurality of mixer units, but the signal of the Doppler component based on the faint motion in the stationary state is detected by the frequency extraction unit. By taking it out and using it together, it is possible to detect faint movements in a stationary state that could not be accurately detected with the signal of the standing wave component, so it is possible to improve the detection accuracy of stationary or slow moving objects. It can be further improved.

Further, if the frequency extraction unit is configured to extract signals in a plurality of different frequency bands, it is possible to extract the Doppler signal in the frequency band based on the faint motion in the stationary state and the object. It is possible to extract a Doppler signal in a frequency band based on a large movement such as approach / departure of the. Therefore, it is possible to detect a large movement such as approach / departure of the target object, and it is possible to detect the target object existing at a predetermined distance rather than just judging that the target object exists at a predetermined distance based on the standing wave signal. It is possible to further improve the detection accuracy of the object.

Further, a plurality of the receiving sections are provided, and a phase difference is generated in the middle of the line between the receiving sections and the mixer section so that the phases of the output signals output from the receiving sections do not all match. The phase difference generating means is provided, and the plurality of mixers are characterized in that the transmission signals and the reception signals are mixed in different phase differences. With such a configuration, it is possible to cause a phase difference so that all the phases of the output signals do not match in each of the plurality of mixer units without inviting an increase in the size of the sensor device such as shifting the position of the receiving unit, and the standing wave signal is generated. Since the number of nodes due to the vibration is reduced, the output for an arbitrary distance can be determined substantially uniquely.

Further, the output signal output from the receiving unit is divided in the middle of the line between the receiving unit and the plurality of mixer units, and a phase difference is generated so that the phases of the divided signals do not match. The phase difference generating means is provided, and the plurality of mixers are characterized in that the transmission signals and the reception signals are mixed in different phase differences. With this configuration,
Even if there is only one transmitter, multiple outputs can be obtained, and the resulting standing wave signals all have different phases, so the nodes of each standing wave can be reduced and the desired distance can be reduced. The output for can be determined substantially uniquely.

A toilet device equipped with the above-mentioned sensor device, wherein the sensor device detects a user,
A feature of the present invention is that the function provided in the toilet device is turned on / off based on the detection result. This toilet device has a urinal, and when the sensor device detects the user, it supplies cleaning water to the urinal.This toilet device has a toilet seat heating means or a toilet bowl air suction means. Then
When the sensor device detects the user, the toilet seat heating means or the air suction means in the toilet bowl is driven.
As described above, by using this sensor device for the toilet device installed in the toilet booth where the user is moving at a relatively low speed or in a static state, it is possible to accurately determine the presence or absence of the user. Therefore, it is possible to automatically control the on / off of the functions provided in the toilet device such as the supply of flush water to the urinal, the toilet seat heating means, and the air suction means in the toilet bowl depending on the presence or absence of the user, thereby saving water. It is possible to provide a toilet device with excellent power saving.

A water faucet device equipped with the above-mentioned sensor device, wherein the sensor device detects a user and turns on / off the water discharge based on the detection result, and the sensor device detects the user and the water discharge. It is characterized in that the discharged water is turned on and off by discriminating the discharged water. In this way, the presence of the user's hand, which is relatively slow or has many stationary states, can be accurately and quickly performed by using this sensor device, and the presence or absence of the actual hand on / off of the water discharge can be determined. It is possible to provide a faucet device having excellent water-saving performance, which can be switched promptly. Also,
By being able to discriminate the water from the user, it is possible to prevent erroneous detection, which may occur in a conventional sensor, by determining that water is a human body and the water does not stop.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, the center frequency of the transmission signal is 10.525 GHz.

FIG. 1 shows an overall schematic view of the sensor device. Here, the sensor device of the present invention has one transmitting antenna 1 for transmitting a radio wave to an object and two receiving antennas 2 for receiving a reflected wave from the object, and outputs from each receiving unit. A phase difference generating means 3 for generating a phase difference so that all the phases of the output signals to be output do not match, and a frequency extraction part 4 for extracting two specific frequency bands from one output signal output from the receiving part. Is to have. here,
Although the size and directivity of the transmission signal 5 are adjusted by adopting a method of dividing one transmission unit 1 on the patch antenna 10, in actuality, only one transmission signal 5 is divided. Therefore, the number of transmitting antennas 1 is one.

Here, a signal is sent to the transmitting antenna 1 from a signal generator 6 which generates a transmitting signal 5. The transmission signal 5 is sent not only to the transmission antenna 1 but also to the mixer section 7 provided downstream of the reception antenna 2 and the phase difference generating means 3. With this mixer section 7,
The reception signal 8 output from the reception antenna 2 is the transmission signal 5
As a result, the output signals (beat signals) from the respective mixer units 7 are taken out as low frequency output signals 9a and 9b. The low frequency output signals 9a and 9b are signals in which the Doppler component is superimposed on the component as the standing wave, and therefore, the low frequency output based on the Doppler frequency is obtained.

The low-frequency output signals 9a and 9b are sent to the determination means 14 for determining the object, and one of the low-frequency output signals 9b is branched and sent to the frequency extracting section 4. The frequency extraction unit 4 extracts a signal in a specific frequency band from the signal converted into the low frequency by the mixer unit 7. In this embodiment, the frequency extraction unit 4 is
It is composed of a bandpass filter consisting of a resistor and a capacitor. In addition, the frequency band at this time is from the first frequency band filter 11 from 0 Hz to several Hz for detecting the "fluctuation" of the stationary human body, and from several Hz to see the fluctuation of the voltage level due to the approach and departure of the human body. The second frequency band filter 12 up to 30 Hz is used.

Here, the judging means 14 is the phase difference generating means 3
By comparing the two low-frequency output signals 9a and 9b that have passed through and the auxiliary signal 13 that has passed through the first frequency band 11 of the frequency extraction unit 4 with a threshold value for determining the presence or absence of the object, The presence or absence is judged.

The second frequency band 1 of the frequency extraction unit 4
The movement detection signal 15 passing through 2 causes the object to approach /
An operation state such as detachment can be detected by the movement detection determination means 16 and can be used as an auxiliary determination reference for determining the presence or absence of an object, and the low frequency output signals 9a, 9 are used.
The determination of the presence or absence of the object by the determination unit 14 based on b can be complemented, and the object can be detected more accurately.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of the phase difference generating means. Here, the received signals 8 are respectively received from the two receiving antennas 2.
Therefore, the method of shifting the phase of each received signal 8 is adopted. In FIG. 2, the phase generation means 8 is a variable length portion 21 that changes the line length from the receiving antenna 2 to the mixer portion 7, and the variable length portion shifts the phase. By this method, the phase can be freely shifted by changing the length of the variable length portion 21 variously. Also,
In this embodiment, since there are two receiving antennas 2, the 90 ° phase is shifted to reduce the nodes of the output waveform (FIG. 3). As a result, it is possible to reduce the influence of the knots and improve the accuracy of detection.

Further, it is possible to further increase the detection accuracy by increasing the number of antennas, and the phase difference at this time is (180 / N) ° when the number of antennas is N, and the phase difference of It is possible to reduce the influence.

In this embodiment, since the patch antenna 10 is used as the antenna, a method of shifting the phase depending on the line length is adopted. However, when another antenna, for example, a pole type antenna is used, The pole antenna 22 is
It is also possible to easily shift the phase of the received signal 9 by changing the distance from the opening of the waveguide 23 to the pole antenna 22 (FIG. 4). The phase difference generating means 3 may be provided in the line connecting the signal transmitting unit 6 and the mixer unit 7 to generate a phase difference in the transmission signals input to each mixer unit 7.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic diagram of the judging method of the judging means 14. Here, a threshold value is set in advance in order to determine the presence or absence of the object. At this time, the low frequency output signals 9a and 9b
And the auxiliary signal 13 is larger or smaller than the set threshold value. For the determination, there is also a method of full-wave rectifying each low-frequency output signal 9 so as to determine one threshold value, but in the present embodiment, two threshold values are set for positive and negative targets and each low-frequency output signal is set. 9 and the value of the auxiliary signal 13 are compared. Here, the absolute value of the low frequency output signal 9a and the absolute value of the threshold value are compared (S61), and if the absolute value of the signal 9a is lower than the threshold value, the absolute value of the signal 9b and the absolute value of the threshold value are compared (S61).
62) Here, when the absolute values of the two low-frequency output signals are smaller than the absolute value of the threshold value, the determination is performed using the auxiliary signal 13 (S63). As the auxiliary signal 13, a Doppler signal based on the “fluctuation” of a human body at rest is extracted by the first frequency band filter 11 to obtain a signal for a faint motion such as a fluctuation of a stationary object. Therefore, by using this auxiliary signal 13, even a faint movement can be detected, and a human body at rest, which was difficult to detect with the two low-frequency output signals 9a and 9b, can be detected. Can be improved.

FIG. 6 shows a schematic diagram of the determination method of the movement detection determination means 16. The movement detection determination means 16 uses the movement detection signal 1
5 is used to determine the approach or departure of the object. Specifically, the Doppler signal associated with the approach and departure of the human body is extracted from the low-frequency output signal 9b as the movement detection signal 15 by the second frequency band filter 12, and the movement detection signal 15 is subjected to full-wave rectification processing in advance. It is determined whether to approach or leave based on whether or not a plurality of set thresholds are exceeded. As a processing procedure, an output value is taken out at a certain set interval, and the taken output value is compared with a plurality of small threshold values in order to detect which range the output value belongs to (S64 to S66). The memory unit always stores a plurality of data.

Here, the data stored in the memory unit is used to compare with a plurality of data collected before the data and to judge the approach and the departure. The memory unit stores the range to which the output value belongs by using, for example, a microcomputer, compares the stored data with the data collected immediately before (S67), and raises / lowers the level.
The descending value is stored as the upper and lower values of -1 (falling) and 1 (increase). Here, the past comparison is performed, and an arbitrary number (5 in this example) from the newest upper and lower values among the collected upper and lower values.
The upper and lower values are sequentially checked (S68), and if the number of the extracted upper and lower values of 1 has reached the specified value, it is determined to be approaching, and if the number of 0 has reached the specified value, it is determined to be the departure. Also,
If neither specified value is reached, it is determined that there is no approach or departure from the sensor device. Here, although the level to which the output value belongs is seen to be up and down, this is a phenomenon that occurs because the movement detection signal 16 is vibrating. In this embodiment, it is closer than the plurality of data stored in the memory unit. / Because the method of judging departure is performed, erroneous detection can be prevented.

In this embodiment, FIG. 7 shows an example of 20 ms.
The result of measuring the output voltage at each sampling is shown. The threshold value at this time is set every 40 mV, and the threshold value and the output voltage are compared and shown in the level band diagram. At this time, 16
The output voltage level drops significantly at 0 mS,
In this case, it is determined that the object is approaching based on the upper and lower values obtained by comparing the data before that. Similarly, with respect to departure, determination is performed in the same procedure as in this embodiment. By using such a method, it becomes possible to detect the target object using the Doppler signal accompanying the movement of the target object.

Now, the human body detection using the two judging means, the judging means 14 and the movement judging means 16 described above, will be described. Here, an operation is performed in which a human body approaches the sensor device of the present invention, and then temporarily stops and then leaves. FIG. 11 shows two low-frequency output signals 9a and 9b, an auxiliary signal 13, and a movement detection signal 15 for this operation.

From FIG. 11, two low frequency output signals 9a,
9b is a standing wave signal having a phase difference of 90 °. Here, the standing wave signals such as the low-frequency output signals 9a and 9b include not only standing waves but also Doppler signals when the object is moving, and thus the human body approaches and leaves. At this time, the waveform is similar to that of the Doppler signal. Further, since the auxiliary signal 13 is set so as to take only a very low frequency signal, there is almost no signal when the human body approaches or leaves, and the signal is obtained when the human body stops. On the contrary, since the movement detection signal 15 is set so as to detect a moving object, output can be obtained when approaching / departing, but almost no output can be obtained when stopped.

FIG. 12 shows an operation diagram for detecting a human body by using these output signals. When the sensor device of the present invention starts its operation, first, based on the flow of FIG. 6, the movement detection determination means 16 determines the movement of the human body from the output of the movement detection signal 15 (S121). Here, when the movement detection signal 15 detects the approach or departure of the human body (S121 Yes), it is determined that the human body is present (S122). However, if neither the approach nor the departure can be detected by the movement determination (No in S121), the sensor device uses the low-frequency output signals 9a and 9b and the auxiliary signal 13 by the determination means 14 based on the flow of FIG. Detection is started (S123). Human body detection in the vicinity of the sensor device is mainly performed by using the low frequency output signals 9a and 9b, but at the distance where the standing wave becomes a node, the low frequency output signals 9a and 9b cannot be detected. Since it may not be possible, the auxiliary signal 13 is used at this time, and if any of the low-frequency output signals 9a and 9b or the auxiliary signal 13 is output above the threshold value, it is determined that the human body is detected (S).
124). By using the auxiliary signal 13, it is possible to improve the detection accuracy of a stationary human body.

If the human body cannot be detected even by using the auxiliary signal 13 (No in S123), the judging means 14 judges that the human body does not exist near the sensor device (S125). By using a plurality of output signals in this way, it becomes possible to compensate for the defects of each output signal and improve the detection accuracy.

Next, the transmitting antenna 1 and the receiving antenna 2
FIG. 8 shows a schematic view of a sensor device having one unit. In this embodiment, since there is only one receiving antenna 2, the receiving signal 8 is divided into two by the receiving antenna 2 and the phase difference generating means 7 provided on the line of the mixer section 7, and two outputs are obtained at different phases. . In this embodiment, the phase difference generating means 7 uses a Hybrid Coupled Type phase shifter which is a substrate pattern (FIG. 9). This Hybrid Coupled Type phase shifter produces a phase difference of 90 °, and is suitable for determining the presence / absence of an object with two outputs as in the present embodiment.

Further, such a phase generating means 3 includes, for example, a Loaded Line Type phase shifter which produces a phase difference of 45 °, and when this Loaded Line Type phase shifter is used, 4
It is suitable for detecting an object in the output. Further, it is possible to freely adjust the phase by changing the length of the line, but when the number of the receiving antenna 2 is one, it is possible to use one by using a divider in order to obtain a plurality of signals. By dividing the signal and changing the line length to shift the phase, the phase can be freely shifted, and it is possible to handle a plurality of outputs (FIG. 10).

FIG. 13 shows an example in which the sensor device 45 described above is incorporated in the multi-functional toilet device 1. In the multi-functional toilet device 41 of this embodiment, the toilet seat warming device 58 is attached to the toilet seat 42.
It is also a multi-functional toilet device equipped with a deodorizing device 57 for sucking air in the toilet bowl and an automatic cleaning function for automatically supplying cleaning water. First, as the installation location of the sensor device 45, in order to detect the approach and sitting of the human body and prevent erroneous detection due to the opening and closing of the toilet seat 42 and the toilet lid 43, the sensor device 45 is installed at a location not overlapping the toilet lid 43. To do.

At this time, since the installation direction of the sensor device 45 must be able to be detected irrespective of the use condition of the user, in this embodiment, the direction is the toilet device on the center line 46 of the multifunctional toilet device 41. It is installed at a distance of about 50 cm from the tip 47, aiming at the waist height of an adult male. Further, as in the present embodiment, at frequencies near 10 GHz, except for metals, almost all of them are transmitted, so that the sensor can be sealed with pottery or resin, and damage to the sensor due to mischief can be reduced.

Here, the toilet device 41 in this embodiment is used.
FIG. 15 shows the operation sequence of the above. Movement detecting means 1 shown here
The operation order of 6 and the determination means 14 has a correlation as shown in the flowchart of FIG. First, the movement detecting means 16 of the sensor device 45 corresponding to S121 of FIG.
FIG. 15-A shows the operation sequence in FIG. Here, the movement detection means 16 first determines “approach”, “leave”, “approach, no departure” of the human body based on the flowchart of FIG. 6 (S151). Here, when the movement detecting means 16 detects that the human body is approaching, the peripheral devices installed in the toilet device 41 (the automatic opening / closing toilet lid 43, the deodorizing device 5).
7, the toilet seat warming device 58, etc.) is notified of the approach of the human body to the operation start signal, and the operation of each peripheral device is started (S152).

Next, the movement detecting means 16 detects "approach", "departure", "approach, no separation" of the human body as in S151 (S153). Here, the separation of the human body is detected, and the processing ends for other detection results. When the separation of the human body is detected in S153, the movement detection means 16 notifies the control unit 59 of the separation of the human body.

The control unit 59, which has been notified by the movement detecting means 16 of the departure of the human body, transmits an operation stop signal for stopping the operation to each peripheral device to stop each peripheral device (S154). As described above, the movement detection unit 16 controls the peripheral devices of the toilet device 41 depending on the approaching and leaving of the human body.

Next, the operation of the determination means 14 corresponding to S123 of FIG. 12 will be described. The operation sequence in the determination means 14 is shown in FIG. 15-B. The determination means 14 first detects the human body around the toilet device based on the flowchart shown in FIG. 5 (S155). Here, when the presence of a human body is confirmed around the toilet device 41, the determination means 14 transmits a human body presence signal for notifying the human body detection to the valve control unit 55 that controls the opening / closing of the opening / closing valve 54, and this signal is accompanied. Then, the timer device in the valve control unit 55 starts operating (S156).

If the human body cannot be detected in S155, it is confirmed whether the timer is operating (S157). When it is determined that the timer is operating (S157)
Yes), the valve control unit 55 receives this signal, stops the timer device, and detects the human body detection time T obtained from the timer device.
Are totaled (S158).

The human body detection time T obtained by the timer device is compared with a reference time t preset in the valve control unit 55, and if it is longer than the reference time (T> t), a large amount of washing water, If it is shorter than the reference time (T <t), the valve control unit 55 controls the opening / closing valve 54 so as to perform small cleaning with a small amount of purified water (S159).

As described above, since the stationary detection and the detection of the moving object, which have been conventionally performed by using a plurality of sensor devices, can be performed by one sensor device, it is possible to miniaturize the device incorporating the sensor device. it can. Furthermore, since the low-frequency Doppler signal is used as the auxiliary signal for stationary detection, the sensor device has high stationary detection accuracy.

FIG. 14 shows the sensor device of the present invention as a urinal 5.
The figure mounted in 1 is shown. Here, it is mounted in the same place as the sensor device conventionally mounted in the urinal 51. Here, since the sensor device 45 can be hermetically sealed like the toilet device 41 described above, damage to the sensor device 45 due to mischief can be reduced.

As for the detecting operation, similarly to the toilet device described above, the combination of the approaching / leaving of the human body and the determination of the presence / absence of the human body more accurately detects a stationary person or a person whose moving speed is not fast. be able to.

FIG. 16 shows an assembly diagram of the sensor device of the present invention in an automatic faucet. The sensor device 45 of the present invention is installed in the same location as the sensor conventionally mounted on the automatic faucet 52.
Is equipped with. By changing to the sensor device 45 of the present invention, the window for the sensor, which was necessary in the past, becomes unnecessary, and the damage to the sensor due to mischief or the like can be reduced.

Here, in the automatic faucet 52 of the present embodiment, the detection of the stationary or slow moving object performed by the determination means 14 is performed in the same manner as described above, but the movement detection determination means 16 is used.
The judgment between water and the user shall be made instead of the judgment of approach and departure that was made in. Here, a determination operation diagram is shown in FIG.

FIG. 17 shows the operation sequence of the automatic faucet 52.
First, the determination means 14 detects the presence / absence of a user of the automatic faucet 52 based on the flowchart shown in FIG. 5 (S17).
1). Here, when it is detected that there is a user who uses the automatic faucet 52, the determination unit 14 transmits an open signal for opening the opening / closing valve of the automatic faucet 52 to start water discharge (S17).
2).

Subsequently, the determination means 14 detects the human body (S173). When the determination means 14 detects the presence of the human body, the movement detection means 16 determines whether the movement of the human body or the movement due to the flow of water discharge. Make a judgment (S17)
4). Here, the movement detection means 16 operates according to the flowchart of FIG. 6, but the determination in S68 of FIG. 6 is different, and this determination unit determines whether the human body or water is discharged.

The judgment of the human body or water discharge here is shown in the operation diagram of FIG. Since the flush water discharged from the automatic faucet always has a constant flow rate toward the same place, there is no change in the frequency and amplitude of the Doppler signal. However, in the case of a human body, since the hand is washed, the frequency and amplitude of the Doppler signal change due to the movement of the hand. Here, determination is made using the changes in the frequency and the amplitude in S181. For example, if the determination flag 0 in S181 is equal to or more than an arbitrary number (3) in the fixed data (5), it can be determined that the amplitude has hardly changed, and thus water is discharged even if there is no user. Can be determined. If the water discharge is stopped at such a time, the water discharge and the human body can be erroneously detected to prevent the water flow.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the entire sensor device when there are two receiving units.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a phase difference generating means in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram in which a phase difference is generated in the output waveform in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of phase difference generation means when a pole type antenna is used.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a determination method of determination means.

FIG. 6 is a determination method diagram of movement detection determination means.

[Figure 7] Output voltage measurement result diagram

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of the entire sensor device when there is one receiving unit.

FIG. 9 Schematic diagram of Hybrid Coupled Type phase shifter

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a divider.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of each output signal.

FIG. 12 is a diagram of a detection method using a standing wave signal and a Doppler signal.

FIG. 13 is a view showing how the sensor device of the present invention is installed in a toilet device.

FIG. 14 is a view showing an assembly of the sensor device of the present invention into a urinal.

FIG. 15 is an operation diagram of a sensor device incorporated in the toilet device.

FIG. 16 is a view showing an assembly of the sensor device of the present invention into an automatic faucet.

FIG. 17 is an operation diagram of a sensor device in the automatic faucet.

FIG. 18 is a diagram for distinguishing the human body and the water discharge of the sensor device in the automatic faucet.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: Transmitting antenna, 2: Receiving antenna, 3: Phase difference generating means, 4: Frequency extracting unit, 5: Transmitting signal, 6: Transmitting signal generating unit, 7: Mixer unit, 8: Received signal, 9a, 9b: Low Frequency output signal, 10: patch antenna, 11: low frequency band, 12: high frequency band, 13: auxiliary signal, 14: determination means, 15: movement detection signal, 16: movement detection determination means, 21: variable length section, 22: Pole antenna, 23: Waveguide, 31: Transmission line, 32: Input, 33: Output, 34:
Resistance, 35: GND, 41: Toilet device, 42: Sanitary washing device, 43: Toilet lid, 44: Low tank, 45: Sensor device, 46: Center line, 47: Toilet device tip part, 51: Urinal, 52: Automatic faucet, 53: Manned signal, 54: Open / close valve, 55: Valve control unit, 56: Unmanned signal, 57: Deodorizing device, 58: Toilet seat warming device, 59: Control unit

Continued front page    (72) Inventor Mie Ikushima             2-1-1 Nakajima, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture             No. Totoki Equipment Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 5J070 AB15 AD01 AD05 AE09 AH14                       AH40 AJ13 AK22 BA01

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A transmission unit for transmitting radio waves as a transmission signal, and a reception unit for receiving radio waves as a reception signal from the outside.
A mixer unit for mixing the transmission signal and the reception signal,
In the sensor device that determines the presence or absence of an object based on the output signal from the mixer unit, the mixer unit includes a plurality of mixer units that mix in a state in which the phase difference between the transmission signal and the reception signal is different, and, And a frequency extraction unit for extracting a specific frequency band from one output signal of the plurality of mixer units, the signal strength output from the plurality of mixer units, and the strength of the signal output from the frequency extraction unit, From the above, a sensor device for determining the presence or absence of an object. 2. The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the frequency extraction unit extracts signals in a plurality of different frequency bands. 3. A plurality of the receivers are provided, and a phase difference is generated in the middle of the line between the receivers and the mixer so that the phases of the output signals output from the receivers do not all match. 3. The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein a phase difference generating means is provided, and the plurality of mixers mix the transmission signal and the reception signal with different phase differences. 4. An output signal output from the receiving unit is divided in the middle of a line between the receiving unit and a plurality of mixer units, and a phase difference is generated so that the phases of the divided signals do not match. 3. The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein a phase difference generating means is provided, and the plurality of mixers mix the transmission signal and the reception signal with different phase differences. 5. A toilet device comprising the sensor device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the sensor device detects a user, and the function of the toilet device based on the detection result is detected. A toilet device including a sensor device that is turned on and off. 6. A toilet device comprising the sensor device according to claim 5, wherein the toilet device has a urinal,
A toilet device equipped with a sensor device, wherein the sensor device supplies washing water to the urinal when the user detects the user. 7. A toilet device provided with the sensor device according to claim 5, wherein the toilet device has a toilet seat heating means or an air suction means in the toilet bowl portion, and the toilet seat is detected when the sensor device detects a user. A toilet device provided with a sensor device, characterized in that the heating device or the air sucking device in the toilet bowl is driven. 8. A faucet device comprising the sensor device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the sensor device detects a user, and on / off of water discharge is performed based on the detection result. A faucet device equipped with a characteristic sensor device. 9. A faucet device comprising the sensor device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the sensor device discriminates between a user and water being discharged, and detects the result. Based on the detection result. A faucet device equipped with a sensor device for turning on / off water discharge.