JP2003275137A - Sanitary device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problems in fixing a conventional sensor unit having a sensor and a filter formed in an integral structure, on the outside of a product, that the area of the sensor unit different in appearance, quality and color from the product is enlarged, resulting in poor appearance. <P>SOLUTION: This sanitary device has the sensor unit 9 consisting of a projection sensor 4A, a filter portion 2 for cutting the wavelength other than that of a light from the projection sensor 4A and a case 3 for fixing the sensor 4. The sensor unit 9 is fixed to the sanitary device from the inside of a case cover 1 and the filter portion 2 is arranged outside the case cover 1 with the minimum area, so that the filter portion 2 can be constituted with the minimum area required by a projecting portion and a light receiving portion of the sensor 4. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sanitary device provided with an optical sensor for detecting the presence or absence of a user, particularly a local sanitary device,
The present invention relates to a sanitary device having a human body detecting means for detecting the presence or absence of a toilet seat user or a toilet user, such as a toilet lid, an automatic seat opening / closing device, and an automatic toilet cleaning device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an example of prior art relating to the present invention,
The seating sensor of the sanitary washing device will be described. In FIGS. 9 and 10 showing a seating sensor of a conventional sanitary washing device, the sensor 4 is composed of a light emitting section 4A and a light receiving section 4B. The sensor case 3 and the sensor 4 are fixed by engagement. The sensor unit 9 is inserted from the outside of the case cover 1 of the sanitary washing device and fixed in a hooked state by the hooking portion 3A. Therefore, when the sensor unit 9 is installed on the case cover 1, the size of the sensor unit 9 as viewed from the outside needs to be larger than the sensor 4 in the state of FIG.

[0003]

Therefore, in the case of fixing a sensor unit having a sensor and a filter integrated structure from the outside of the product, the area of the sensor unit having a different texture and color from the product appearance becomes large and the appearance is impaired. Become. In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has an object to make the filter section through which the light emitting section and the light receiving section of the sensor transmit as small as possible.

[0004]

In order to solve the above problems, in the invention of claim 1, the light for detecting the presence or absence of the human body is emitted as projection light toward the object to be detected to detect the presence or absence of the human body. In a sanitary device having a sensor unit composed of a sensor for detecting, a filter section for cutting light other than the wavelength of the sensor, and a case for fixing the sensor, the sensor unit is fixed from the inside of the case cover of the sanitary device. Since the filter portion is arranged on the outside of the case cover with the minimum area, the filter can be configured with the minimum area required by the light projecting portion and the light receiving portion of the sensor.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the first aspect of the invention, the filter portion is formed of a transmissive material that transmits at a level necessary for detecting the detection light, and the non-transparent portion other than the transparent portion is used. Since the transmissive portion is formed of a non-transmissive material that sufficiently attenuates or blocks the detection light, even if the light from the light emitting portion is diffusely reflected when a water droplet is generated, the light that is diffusely reflected may reach the light receiving portion. There is no fear of malfunction.

In addition, in the invention of claim 3, in addition to the invention of claim 1, since the filter is provided with a light blocking portion for blocking light transmission between the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion inside the filter, Even if the light from the light emitting section is irregularly reflected when the occurrence of the light occurs, the irregularly reflected light does not reach the light receiving section, and there is no fear of malfunction.

Further, in the invention of claim 4, in addition to the invention of claim 1, since the transparent portion and the non-transparent portion are integrally formed by two-color molding, double molding, or insert molding, both of them are integrated. The gap between them can be eliminated, and dirt and dust will not be clogged.

Further, in the invention of claim 5, in addition to the invention of claim 1, since the transmitting part and the non-transmitting part are fixed by adhesion, the color and transmittance characteristics of the filter can be freely set after molding. Can be changed to

Further, in the invention of claim 6, in addition to the invention of claim 1, since the sensor is fixed to the case by another component such as engagement or a screw, the sensor is held at a good setting position. be able to.

Further, in the invention of claim 7, in addition to the invention of claim 1, since the sensor unit and the case cover are fixed by separate parts such as engagement and screws, variations in the positions of the sensor and the filter are caused. It can be suppressed, and the variation in the sensor sensing area can be minimized.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A detailed description will be given below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a sanitary device. The sanitary device 10 includes a case cover 1 that accommodates various functional parts, a toilet lid 11 and a toilet seat 12 that are openably and closably attached to the case cover 1. The case cover 1 is provided with a sensor unit 9. As shown in FIG. 2, the sensor unit 9 includes a light projecting portion 4A and a light receiving portion 4 of the sensor 4 on the surface of the sensor case 3.
B is installed side by side.

Next, the details of the sensor unit 9 will be described. In FIG. 4, the sensor 4 is a sensor case 3
It is fixed to. On the front surface of the sensor case 3, there is provided a filter 2 that cuts light other than the wavelength of the light from the sensor 4, and the filter 2 includes a light projecting section 4A of the sensor 4,
It is composed of the minimum area required by the light receiving section 4B.

Similar to FIGS. 6 and 8, by fixing this sensor unit from the inside of the case cover 1 with a screw 6 or the like, a sensor unit 9 including a filter 2 having a texture and a color different from that of the case cover 1 is illustrated. As shown in FIG. 3, the outer surface has the smallest area. In addition, the expensive filter 2 can be kept in a minimum area, which leads to cost reduction.

In FIG. 6, the light projecting portion 4A of the filter 2,
By providing the light shielding portion 1A between the light receiving portions 4B and separating the light projecting surface and the light receiving surface, it is possible to further keep the sensor unit 9 in the minimum area as shown in FIG.

By inlaying the sensor case 3 on the inner surface of the case cover 1 as shown in FIG. 8, it is possible to expose only the filter 2 portion of the sensor unit 9 to the outer surface as shown in FIG.

In FIG. 4, the sensor case 3 is made of a material that does not allow light to pass therethrough, and the sensor unit 9 is structured so that light does not enter between the sensor light projecting portion 4A and the light receiving portion 4B. Therefore, by providing the light-shielding portion 5 that blocks the transmission of light between the light-emitting portion and the light-receiving portion inside the sensor unit 9, when a water droplet is generated on the inner surface of the filter 2, the light-emitting portion 4A.
Even if the light from is diffusely reflected, the light-shielding portion 5 overlaps, so the reflected light diffusely reflected on the inner surface of the filter 2 does not strike the light receiving portion 4B.

Even if dirt such as water droplets, scratches or urine adheres to the outer surface of the filter 2, the light from the light emitting portion 4A is diffusely reflected on the outer surface of the filter 2 to generate reflected light inside the filter 2. Light-shielding material 5 that cuts between the light receiving parts
As a result, the reflected light stays inside the light emitting part of the filter 2 and does not enter the light receiving part, so that the influence of light that is diffusely reflected by the filter 2 itself can be completely eliminated, false detection is prevented, and the reliability of the sensor is significantly improved. improves.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the light shielding portion 1A may be provided from the case cover 1.

In FIG. 4, especially if the sensor case 3 and the filter 2 can be fixed at the time of molding, the sensor 4
The part for fixing the so-called sensor case 3 and the part for transmitting the light of the sensor, the so-called filter 2, can be made into an integral structure, so that there is no gap between them and dirt and dust are not boring. It is also possible to change the color of only the filter 2.

In FIG. 4, it is also possible to separately form the sensor case 3 and the filter 2 and fix them later with an adhesive or the like. In this case, the color and transmittance characteristics of the filter can be formed after the molding. It can be changed freely.

In the figure, sensor 4 and sensor case 3
By fixing with separate parts such as engagement and screws,
The light emitting / receiving position of the sensor 4 can be held at a favorable setting position, and the positions of the filter 2 and the sensor 4 can be reliably set.

In FIG. 4, the sensor unit 9 and the case cover 1 are engaged or fixed from the inside with screws 6 or another component, so that the variation in the position of the sensor 4 and the filter 2 is eliminated and the variation in the sensing area of the sensor is reduced. The sensing accuracy of the sensor is greatly improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a toilet seat device body of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a sensor unit of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the sensor unit, the filter, and the case cover according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a sensor unit and a case cover according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a top view of a sensor unit, a filter and a case cover according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a sensor unit and a case cover according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a top view of a sensor unit, a filter and a case cover according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a sensor unit and a case cover according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a top view of a conventional sensor unit, filter, and case cover. FIG.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional sensor unit and a case cover.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: Case cover, 1A: Case cover light shielding part 2: Filter, 3: Sensor case, 3A: Snap fit, 4: Sensor, 4A: Sensor light emitting part, 4B: Sensor light receiving part, 5: Light shielding part, 6: Screw , 9: sensor unit, 10:
Toilet seat device, 11: Toilet lid, 12: Toilet seat

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Tomokazu Goda             1-1 Maigaoka, Kokuraminami-ku, Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture             No. 1 in Pan Washlet Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Shuji Inoue             1-1 Maigaoka, Kokuraminami-ku, Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture             No. 1 in Pan Washlet Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 2D037 AA02 AD00                 2D038 JF00 KA01

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A sensor for detecting the presence or absence of a human body, which emits light for detecting the presence or absence of a human body as projection light toward an object to be detected, a filter section for cutting the wavelength of the light of the sensor other than that, and a sensor. In a sanitary device having a sensor unit configured with a case to be fixed, the sensor unit is fixed from the inside of a case cover of the sanitary device, and the filter portion is arranged outside the case cover with a minimum area. Toilet seat device. 2. The toilet seat device according to claim 1, wherein the filter portion is formed of a transmissive material that transmits at a level necessary for detecting the detection light, and the non-transmissive portion other than the transmissive portion is the detection light. A toilet seat device, characterized in that it is formed of a non-permeable material that sufficiently attenuates or blocks. 3. The toilet seat device according to claim 1, wherein the filter is provided with a light shielding portion that blocks light transmission between the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion inside the filter. 4. The toilet seat device according to claim 1, wherein the transparent portion and the non-permeable portion are integrally formed by two-color molding, double molding, or insert molding. 5. The toilet seat device according to claim 1, wherein the transparent portion and the non-transparent portion are fixed by adhesion. 6. The toilet seat device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is fixed to the case by another component such as engagement or a screw. 7. The toilet seat device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor unit and the case cover are fixed from inside the case cover by separate parts such as engagement and screws.