JP2004113467A - Warmed toilet seat - Google Patents

Warmed toilet seat Download PDF

Info

Publication number
JP2004113467A
JP2004113467A JP2002280977A JP2002280977A JP2004113467A JP 2004113467 A JP2004113467 A JP 2004113467A JP 2002280977 A JP2002280977 A JP 2002280977A JP 2002280977 A JP2002280977 A JP 2002280977A JP 2004113467 A JP2004113467 A JP 2004113467A
Authority
JP
Japan
Prior art keywords
toilet seat
induction heating
user
heating coil
impedance
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
JP2002280977A
Other languages
Japanese (ja)
Other versions
JP4232422B2 (en
Inventor
Hirotsugu Kamiya
上谷　洋次
Shinji Kondo
近藤　信二
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Panasonic Holdings Corp
Original Assignee
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Matsushita Electric Industrial Co Ltd filed Critical Matsushita Electric Industrial Co Ltd
Priority to JP2002280977A priority Critical patent/JP4232422B2/en
Publication of JP2004113467A publication Critical patent/JP2004113467A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of JP4232422B2 publication Critical patent/JP4232422B2/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a warmed toilet seat which is warmed up speedily by induction heating and detects seat taking by a user by the change of the impedance of an induction heating coil. <P>SOLUTION: The warmed toilet seat is made to speedily warms a toilet seat 3 with a heater 4 which generates an AC magnetic field by a current sent from an inverter 1 to the induction heating coil 2 to generate heat with an induction current. The impedance of the coil 2 changes when the user takes the seat, and an impedance change detection means detects the impedance change. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、トイレの便器に設置し便座を加熱して暖房する暖房便座に関するものである。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
便座を加熱する暖房便座の多くは、発熱抵抗体を便座の中に設置する構成になっている。商用電源から常時発熱抵抗体に電力を供給し便座の着座面を所定温度に暖房しているものである。
【０００３】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
前記従来より知られている暖房部座は、便座面を所定温度まで昇温するのにかなりの時間を要し、また便座の非使用時にも保温のための電力を消費するという課題があった。つまり、使用者の便宜を図るために、不定期なトイレ使用に対し小電力の発熱抵抗体に常時通電して所定温度に保温し着座時に冷感を感じさせないようにしている。そこで、本発明は上記する従来の課題を解決した暖房便座を提供しようとするものである。
【０００４】
【課題を解決するための手段】
本発明はこの様な従来の構成が有している課題を解決するもので、便座に設けた金属等の発熱体を、誘導加熱コイルによって誘導加熱して短時間に所定温度まで昇温でき、使用者の着座により誘導加熱コイルのインピーダンスが変化することを検知して加熱を停止し保温の必要のない暖房便座としているものである。
【０００５】
【発明の実施の形態】
請求項１に記載した発明は、交流電力を供給するインバータと、前記インバータから送られる電流により交流磁界を発生する誘導加熱コイルと、前記誘導加熱コイルで誘起される誘導電流で発熱し便座を加熱する発熱体と、前記誘導加熱コイルのインピーダンスの変化を検知するインピーダンス変化検知手段と、前記インピーダンス変化検知手段の出力を入力しインバータを制御する制御手段とを備え、使用者の便座への着座により誘導加熱コイルのインピーダンスが変化する構成としたことによって便座の着座面を短時間で所定温度に加熱し、誘導加熱コイルのインピーダンスの変化により大人または子供等の着座位置がことなっても確実に着座が検知できる暖房便座とすることができる。
【０００６】
請求項２に記載した発明は、制御手段は使用者が着座すると便座の加熱を停止させることにより長い着座時も便座の温度が徐徐に低下するので低温火傷のない暖房便座とすることができる。
【０００７】
請求項３に記載した発明は、使用者のトイレへの入室を検知する人体検知手段を備え、制御手段は前記人体検知手段の出力を入力し、使用者を検知後所定時間経過するまでに着座を検知しないと便座の加熱を停止させることにより使用者の入室検知で加熱を開始し着座までに着座面を所定温度に昇温し着座すると加熱を停止するので、または使用者が男子の小便や便器の掃除等の便座を非使用な用事でトイレに入室する場合であっても所定時間経過後に加熱を停止するので保温のいらない暖房便座とすることができる。
【０００８】
【実施例】
以下本発明の実施例について図を参照しながら説明する。
【０００９】
（実施例１）
図１は本発明の暖房便座の構成図である。図１に基づいて実施例１について説明する。本実施例の暖房便座は、西洋式トイレの男子小便も共用して使用するものを示している。
【００１０】
１は商用電源１０の商用周波数の電流を整流平滑し、高周波電流に変換するインバータで誘導加熱コイル２に接続される。誘導加熱コイル２は便器５の上の便座３内に配置されインバータ１から供給される高周波電流により高周波磁界を発生する。４は着座面と反対側を断熱する断熱材（弾性材）６を介して誘導加熱コイル２に対向して配置される発熱体で導電性のある金属等で構成している。断熱材６は使用者の荷重により凹み、使用者がいなくなるともとの形状を保持する弾性を有する。１２は着座面の温度を検知する座面温度検知手段でサーミスタ等で構成される。１１は誘導加熱コイル２に流れる電流を検知する電流センサ（インイーダンス検知手段）で誘導加熱コイル２のインピーダンスが変化すると流れる電流も変化するので誘導加熱コイルのインピーダンス変化を検知できる。１３はトイレのドア１４から使用者が入室するのを検知する赤外センサ（人体検知手段）で人体から発せられる赤外線を検知するフォトダイオード等で構成される。制御手段８は電流センサ１１と座面温度検知手段１２と赤外線センサ１３との出力を入力手段７を介して入力し、インバータ１を出力手段９を介して制御する。
【００１１】
以下本実施例の動作について説明する。図示していない便座の暖房使用スイッチを使用側に操作すると、制御手段８が動作を開始して赤外線センサ１３からの入力を待ち、赤外線センサ１３で使用者のトイレへの入室を検知するとインバータ１を制御して誘導加熱コイル２に高周波電流を供給して便座の加熱を開始する。誘導加熱コイル２からは供給された高周波電流に応じた高周波磁界が発生する。この高周波磁界は、断熱材６を透過して発熱体４と鎖交し誘導加熱する。制御手段８は座面温度検知手段１２からの入力により座面温度をモニターして座面温度が所定温度になるように所定温度との温度差が大きい場合は大パワーで温度差が小さい場合は小パワーでインバータ１を制御する。使用者がトイレに入室してから着座するまでの時間で便座温度は所定温度なるように制御する。
【００１２】
使用者が便座３に着座すると使用者の荷重により断熱材６は弾性を有するので圧縮して発熱体４と誘導加熱コイル２の距離が短くなり誘導加熱コイル２で発生した高周波磁界は発熱体４に鎖交しやすくなり誘導加熱コイル２のインピーダンスが変化し流れる電流が変化する。制御手段８は電流センサ１１から誘導加熱コイル２の電流の変化を入力すると使用者の着座と判定してインバータ１を制御して便座の加熱を停止する。長い着座であれば座面温度は徐々に下がり低温火傷するおそれはない。使用者が便座から離れると断熱材６は弾性を有するので元の形状に回復し発熱体４と加熱コイル６の距離は着座前と同様になる。使用者が男子で小便をする場合または掃除をする場合は着座しないので制御手段８は入室を検知後所定時間経過すると加熱を停止するので以後の便座加熱用の電力は消費されない。夏などに便座の暖房を長期に使用しない場合は図示していない便座暖房スイッチを非使用側にしておくとトイレに入室しても便座の加熱は開始されない。
【００１３】
本実施例では断熱材６に弾性を有する構成としたが発熱体４に弾性を有する構成としてもよい。使用者の着座の荷重により着座部が凹み加熱コイル２との距離が短くなるようにし、長い着座により座面温度の低下が大きく再加熱する場合は距離の短い部分が誘導加熱されやすいので小電力で着座部の加熱が可能になる。
【００１４】
【発明の効果】
以上のように、本発明によれば、便座の着座面を短時間で所定温度に加熱し、誘導加熱コイルのインピーダンスの変化により大人または子供等の着座位置がことなっても確実に着座が検知できる暖房便座とすることができる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明の実施例１における暖房便座の構成図
【符号の説明】
１　インバータ
２　誘導加熱コイル
３　便座
４　発熱体
８　制御手段
１０　電流センサ（インピ−ダンス変化検知手段）[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a heated toilet seat that is installed in a toilet bowl and heats and heats a toilet seat.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Most heating toilet seats that heat the toilet seat have a configuration in which a heating resistor is installed in the toilet seat. Power is constantly supplied from a commercial power supply to the heating resistor to heat the seating surface of the toilet seat to a predetermined temperature.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The conventionally known heating seat has a problem that it takes a considerable amount of time to raise the temperature of the toilet seat surface to a predetermined temperature, and also consumes power for keeping the heat when the toilet seat is not used. . In other words, for the convenience of the user, a small-power heating resistor is constantly energized to keep the temperature at a predetermined temperature for irregular toilet use so that the user does not feel cold when seated. Then, this invention aims at providing the heating toilet seat which solved the above-mentioned conventional subject.
[0004]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention is to solve the problems of such a conventional configuration, a heating element such as metal provided on the toilet seat, induction heating by an induction heating coil, can be heated to a predetermined temperature in a short time, It detects that the impedance of the induction heating coil changes due to the user's seating, stops heating, and provides a heating toilet seat that does not need to keep heat.
[0005]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
The invention described in claim 1 is an inverter that supplies AC power, an induction heating coil that generates an AC magnetic field by a current sent from the inverter, and heats the toilet seat by generating heat with the induction current induced by the induction heating coil. A heating element, an impedance change detecting means for detecting a change in impedance of the induction heating coil, and a control means for inputting an output of the impedance change detecting means and controlling an inverter, and allowing a user to sit on a toilet seat. By changing the impedance of the induction heating coil, the seating surface of the toilet seat can be heated to a predetermined temperature in a short time. Can be detected as a heating toilet seat.
[0006]
According to the invention described in claim 2, the control means stops heating of the toilet seat when the user sits down, so that the temperature of the toilet seat gradually decreases even when the user sits for a long time, so that a heating toilet seat free from low-temperature burns can be provided.
[0007]
The invention described in claim 3 includes a human body detecting means for detecting a user's entry into the toilet, and the control means inputs an output of the human body detecting means and sits by a predetermined time after detecting the user. If not detected, the heating of the toilet seat is stopped, heating is started by detecting entry of the user, the seating surface is heated to a predetermined temperature by the time of seating, and heating is stopped when the user is seated. Even when the toilet seat is not used, such as for cleaning a toilet, the heating is stopped after a lapse of a predetermined time, so that a heated toilet seat that does not require heat retention can be provided.
[0008]
【Example】
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0009]
(Example 1)
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of the heating toilet seat of the present invention. A first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The heating toilet seat of the present embodiment is shown to be used in common with male urinals of a Western toilet.
[0010]
An inverter 1 is connected to the induction heating coil 2 for rectifying and smoothing the commercial frequency current of the commercial power supply 10 and converting it into a high-frequency current. The induction heating coil 2 is disposed in the toilet seat 3 above the toilet 5 and generates a high-frequency magnetic field by a high-frequency current supplied from the inverter 1. Reference numeral 4 denotes a heating element which is disposed to face the induction heating coil 2 via a heat insulating material (elastic material) 6 for insulating the side opposite to the seating surface and is made of a conductive metal or the like. The heat insulating material 6 has elasticity which is depressed by the load of the user and retains the original shape when the user is gone. Reference numeral 12 denotes a seat surface temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the seat surface, which is constituted by a thermistor or the like. Reference numeral 11 denotes a current sensor (impedance detecting means) for detecting a current flowing in the induction heating coil 2. When the impedance of the induction heating coil 2 changes, the current flowing also changes, so that a change in the impedance of the induction heating coil can be detected. Reference numeral 13 denotes an infrared sensor (human body detecting means) for detecting that a user enters a room through a door 14 of a toilet, and is configured by a photodiode or the like for detecting infrared rays emitted from a human body. The control means 8 inputs the outputs of the current sensor 11, the seat surface temperature detecting means 12 and the infrared sensor 13 via the input means 7, and controls the inverter 1 via the output means 9.
[0011]
Hereinafter, the operation of this embodiment will be described. When a heating use switch (not shown) of the toilet seat is operated to the use side, the control means 8 starts operating and waits for an input from the infrared sensor 13, and when the infrared sensor 13 detects that the user enters the toilet, the inverter 1 Is supplied to the induction heating coil 2 to start heating the toilet seat. A high-frequency magnetic field is generated from the induction heating coil 2 according to the supplied high-frequency current. This high-frequency magnetic field penetrates the heat insulating material 6 and interlinks with the heating element 4 to perform induction heating. The control unit 8 monitors the seat surface temperature based on the input from the seat surface temperature detecting unit 12, and when the temperature difference from the predetermined temperature is large so that the seat surface temperature becomes the predetermined temperature, the power is large and the temperature difference is small. The inverter 1 is controlled with a small power. The toilet seat temperature is controlled to be a predetermined temperature in a time period from when the user enters the toilet to when the user sits down.
[0012]
When the user sits on the toilet seat 3, the heat insulating material 6 has elasticity due to the load of the user and is compressed to shorten the distance between the heating element 4 and the induction heating coil 2. The impedance of the induction heating coil 2 changes, and the flowing current changes. When a change in the current of the induction heating coil 2 is input from the current sensor 11, the control means 8 determines that the user is sitting and controls the inverter 1 to stop heating the toilet seat. If the seat is long, the temperature of the seat surface gradually decreases and there is no risk of low-temperature burns. When the user separates from the toilet seat, the heat insulating material 6 has elasticity and thus recovers its original shape, and the distance between the heating element 4 and the heating coil 6 becomes the same as before seating. When the user urinates or cleans with a boy, the user does not sit down, and the control means 8 stops heating when a predetermined time elapses after detecting entry, so that power for heating the toilet seat thereafter is not consumed. If the toilet seat heating is not used for a long time in summer or the like, the toilet seat heating switch (not shown) is set to the non-use side so that heating of the toilet seat does not start even when entering the toilet.
[0013]
In this embodiment, the heat insulating material 6 has elasticity, but the heat generating element 4 may have elasticity. The seating portion is depressed by the user's seating load, so that the distance from the heating coil 2 is shortened. If the seating surface temperature is greatly reduced due to long seating and reheating is performed, the short distance portion is easily subjected to induction heating, so that a small electric power is required. Thus, the seat can be heated.
[0014]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the seating surface of the toilet seat is heated to a predetermined temperature in a short time, and the seating is reliably detected even if the seating position of an adult or a child is different due to a change in the impedance of the induction heating coil. It can be a heated toilet seat.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a heating toilet seat according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Inverter 2 Induction heating coil 3 Toilet seat 4 Heating element 8 Control means 10 Current sensor (impedance change detection means)

Claims (3)

交流電力を供給するインバータと、前記インバータから送られる電流により交流磁界を発生する誘導加熱コイルと、前記誘導加熱コイルで誘起される誘導電流で発熱し便座を加熱する発熱体と、前記誘導加熱コイルのインピーダンスの変化を検知するインピーダンス変化検知手段と、前記インピーダンス変化検知手段の出力を入力しインバータを制御する制御手段とを備え、使用者の便座への着座により誘導加熱コイルのインピーダンスが変化する構成とした暖房便座。An inverter that supplies AC power, an induction heating coil that generates an AC magnetic field by a current sent from the inverter, a heating element that generates heat by the induction current induced by the induction heating coil and heats a toilet seat, and the induction heating coil A impedance change detecting means for detecting a change in impedance of the induction heating coil, and a control means for inputting an output of the impedance change detecting means and controlling an inverter, wherein the impedance of the induction heating coil changes when the user is seated on a toilet seat. And heated toilet seat. 制御手段は使用者が着座すると便座の加熱を停止する請求項１に記載の暖房便座。The heating toilet seat according to claim 1, wherein the control unit stops heating the toilet seat when the user sits down. 使用者のトイレへの入室を検知する人体検知手段を備え、制御手段は前記人体検知手段の出力を入力し、使用者を検知後所定時間経過するまでに着座を検知しないと便座の加熱を停止する請求項１または２に記載の暖房便座。A human body detecting means for detecting a user entering the toilet is provided, and the control means inputs an output of the human body detecting means and stops heating of the toilet seat unless a seat is detected by a predetermined time after the user is detected. The heating toilet seat according to claim 1.
JP2002280977A 2002-09-26 2002-09-26 Heating toilet seat Expired - Fee Related JP4232422B2 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2002280977A JP4232422B2 (en) 2002-09-26 2002-09-26 Heating toilet seat

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2002280977A JP4232422B2 (en) 2002-09-26 2002-09-26 Heating toilet seat

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
JP2004113467A true JP2004113467A (en) 2004-04-15
JP4232422B2 JP4232422B2 (en) 2009-03-04

Family

ID=32275548

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
JP2002280977A Expired - Fee Related JP4232422B2 (en) 2002-09-26 2002-09-26 Heating toilet seat

Country Status (1)

Country Link
JP (1) JP4232422B2 (en)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2007097937A (en) * 2005-10-06 2007-04-19 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd Toilet seat device
WO2007129714A1 (en) * 2006-05-09 2007-11-15 Panasonic Corporation Toilet seat device
JP2010269069A (en) * 2009-05-25 2010-12-02 Toshiba Corp Toilet seat device

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2007097937A (en) * 2005-10-06 2007-04-19 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd Toilet seat device
WO2007129714A1 (en) * 2006-05-09 2007-11-15 Panasonic Corporation Toilet seat device
JP2010269069A (en) * 2009-05-25 2010-12-02 Toshiba Corp Toilet seat device

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JP4232422B2 (en) 2009-03-04

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
WO2010041443A1 (en) Toilet seat device
WO2007000981A1 (en) Toilet seat device and toilet device with the same
JP2012250037A (en) Device for controlling temperature of toilet seat of bidet, and method thereof
JP2009240549A (en) Toilet seat device and toilet apparatus equipped with the same
JP2007007016A (en) Toilet seat device
JP4232422B2 (en) Heating toilet seat
JP4068648B2 (en) Toilet seat device and toilet device including the same
JP2007111164A (en) Toilet seat device
JP2010022751A (en) Toilet seat heating device
JP2000120136A (en) Controller for hot water cleaning stool seat
JP4983481B2 (en) Toilet seat device
JPH11299696A (en) Heating toilet seat device
JP5691126B2 (en) Toilet seat device
JP5050630B2 (en) Toilet seat device and toilet device including the same
JP4784053B2 (en) Heating toilet seat
JPH0693643A (en) Sanitary cleaning device
JP2007007017A (en) Toilet seat device
JP2009101045A (en) Toilet seat apparatus
JP4517477B2 (en) Toilet equipment
JPH08228964A (en) Toilet seat device of hot water washing type
JPH01113011A (en) Flushing toilet stool
JPS6259573B2 (en)
JP5176831B2 (en) Toilet seat device
JP5402704B2 (en) Toilet seat device
JP2001182131A (en) Bidet

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
A621 Written request for application examination

Free format text: JAPANESE INTERMEDIATE CODE: A621

Effective date: 20050422

RD01 Notification of change of attorney

Free format text: JAPANESE INTERMEDIATE CODE: A7421

Effective date: 20050707

A977 Report on retrieval

Free format text: JAPANESE INTERMEDIATE CODE: A971007

Effective date: 20071031

A131 Notification of reasons for refusal

Free format text: JAPANESE INTERMEDIATE CODE: A131

Effective date: 20071106

A521 Written amendment

Free format text: JAPANESE INTERMEDIATE CODE: A523

Effective date: 20071213

TRDD Decision of grant or rejection written
A01 Written decision to grant a patent or to grant a registration (utility model)

Free format text: JAPANESE INTERMEDIATE CODE: A01

Effective date: 20081118

A01 Written decision to grant a patent or to grant a registration (utility model)

Free format text: JAPANESE INTERMEDIATE CODE: A01

A61 First payment of annual fees (during grant procedure)

Free format text: JAPANESE INTERMEDIATE CODE: A61

Effective date: 20081201

FPAY Renewal fee payment (prs date is renewal date of database)

Free format text: PAYMENT UNTIL: 20111219

Year of fee payment: 3

FPAY Renewal fee payment (prs date is renewal date of database)

Free format text: PAYMENT UNTIL: 20111219

Year of fee payment: 3

FPAY Renewal fee payment (prs date is renewal date of database)

Free format text: PAYMENT UNTIL: 20121219

Year of fee payment: 4

FPAY Renewal fee payment (prs date is renewal date of database)

Free format text: PAYMENT UNTIL: 20121219

Year of fee payment: 4

FPAY Renewal fee payment (prs date is renewal date of database)

Free format text: PAYMENT UNTIL: 20131219

Year of fee payment: 5

LAPS Cancellation because of no payment of annual fees