JP2006025814A5 - - Google Patents

Description

Heating toilet seat

  The present invention relates to a control configuration of a heater of a rapid heating toilet seat that heats a toilet seat in a short time.

In the conventional heating toilet seat of this type, as shown in FIG. 7, the seat portion 103 of the toilet seat 102 having a hollow portion 101 is made of a transparent polypropylene resin, and the radiant heat absorption layer 104 installed on the surface of the seat portion 103. And a lamp heater was installed in the cavity 101. Radiation from the lamp heater 105 passes through the transparent polypropylene resin seating portion 103 and is converted into heat by the radiant heat absorption layer 104 installed on the surface to raise the temperature of the seating portion 103. Since heat is generated in the radiant heat absorption layer 104 with which the buttock comes into contact, the buttock can be heated in a shorter time compared to a system in which heat is conducted from the inside of the toilet seat 102 by a cord heater or the like. Further, temperature control is performed by a thermostat 106 placed in the vicinity of the lamp heater 105, and a temperature fuse 107 is used to prevent the danger of abnormal heating (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2000-14598 A

  However, because the lamp heater has good quick-warming performance, and because of a detection delay of a temperature detection device such as a thermostat, the lamp heater cannot be controlled quickly, and the toilet seat is overheated or controlled according to changes in ambient temperature. There was a drawback that it was difficult to remove. In other words, if the heating output is set according to the winter season when the ambient temperature is low, overheating occurs when the ambient temperature increases, and if the heating output is set according to the summer season when the ambient temperature is high, heating is insufficient when the ambient temperature decreases. There was a possibility.

In order to solve the conventional problems, the heating toilet seat of the present invention includes a heater for heating the toilet seat, a human body detection means for detecting a person using the toilet seat, a temperature detection means provided in the vicinity of the heater, Heater control means for controlling the initial voltage application time of the heater according to the output of the human body detection means and the detection temperature of the temperature detection means, and the temperature detection means detects the temperature in the vicinity of the heater. The temperature of the seating surface of the toilet seat is estimated .

This configuration of the toilet seat surface temperature detected by the temperature detecting means upon detection of a human body to be used to seat, in accordance with the detected temperature, to set the initial voltage application energization time of Heater, heated at a constant temperature A series of flow of turning off the power is executed. That is, even if the ambient temperature changes and the surface temperature of the toilet seat changes, the energization time control for heating to an appropriate temperature is performed.

  The present invention enables optimization of the heating start and end timing and heating temperature of a heating toilet seat having immediate warming performance, thereby realizing an easy-to-use and energy-saving heating toilet seat.

1st invention is the heater which heats a toilet seat, the human body detection means which detects the person using the said toilet seat, the temperature detection means provided in the vicinity of the said heater, the output of the said human body detection means, and the said temperature detection means Heater control means for controlling the initial voltage application time of the heater according to the detected temperature of the heater, and the temperature detection means detects the temperature in the vicinity of the heater and estimates the temperature of the seating surface of the toilet seat It is.

With this configuration, the temperature in the vicinity of the heater that correlates with the ambient temperature of the toilet seat body is detected to estimate the seating surface temperature of the toilet seat, and based on this, the application time of the initial voltage for heating the toilet seat is controlled. Therefore, it becomes possible to realize a heating toilet seat that can heat the toilet seat temperature at a constant level, realizes a convenient and energy-saving heating toilet seat.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a heater for heating the toilet seat, a human body detecting means for detecting a person using the toilet seat, a temperature detecting means for measuring a surface temperature of the toilet seat, an output of the human body detecting means, and the temperature detection. Heater control means for controlling the initial voltage application time of the heater according to the detected temperature of the means, and the heater control means is a seating surface of the toilet seat during initial voltage application based on the output of the temperature detection means Is controlled so as not to exceed a predetermined temperature.

This configuration controls the initial voltage application time during human body detection based on the temperature detected by the temperature detection means, and controls the energization of the heater so that the toilet seat surface temperature during heating is detected and does not exceed a predetermined temperature. To do. Thus, the configuration can be simplified by using the existing temperature detection means and performing temperature reference at an appropriate timing.

A third invention is, in particular, in the first or second invention, Heater control unit determines the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means in a plurality of steps, heat over according to the detected temperature becomes higher step from a lower step The energization time when the initial voltage is applied is set to be shortened sequentially.

This arrangement, as the detection temperature before Heater energization determined in plural stages, the energization time for Heater initial voltage applied is successively shorter in accordance with the detected temperature becomes higher step from a lower step is obtained by setting, heat over by varying the initial voltage electricity supply time at the time of the application of the data, eliminating excess energization time has quick heating performance, optimum toilet seat temperature set according to the variation of ambient temperature it can.

A fourth invention is, in particular, in any of the first three, Heater control means, the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means is equal to or greater than a predetermined temperature and is not performed the initial voltage application.

Thus, when the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means becomes higher than a predetermined temperature, by not energizing the Heater, it is possible to suppress excessive heating.

A fifth invention is, in particular in any one of the first to fourth, Heater control means, the temperature of the toilet seat surface during the initial application of voltage is so controlled so as not to exceed 50 ° C..

  Thereby, safe toilet seat heating is realizable by restraining toilet seat surface temperature to 50 ° C.

A sixth aspect of the invention, especially in the first to fifth invention, Heater control means stops the initial voltage applied current when the temperature detected by the temperature detection means before the initial voltage applied energization is finished becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature It provides a toilet seat with excellent safety.

The seventh invention is particularly the first to sixth inventions, in which the control temperature of the heater is changed after completion of the initial voltage application.

Thereby, after the Heater rises once changes the control temperature of the heater, the power supplied to the Heater Moreover also intended to reduce, to achieve insulation state at a suitable temperature in the toilet seat using energy saving It is to realize sex.

According to an eighth invention, in any one of the first to seventh inventions, there is provided a seating detection means for detecting that a person is seated on the toilet seat, and the heater control means has an output from the seating detection means. During this time, power is supplied to the heater, and when the output from the seating detection means is lost, the power supplied to the heater is stopped.

  Thus, since heating is performed only when seating is detected, the lamp heater is not energized except when the toilet seat is used, thereby further saving energy.

According to a ninth invention, in any one of the first to seventh inventions, there is provided a seating detection means for detecting that a person is seated on the toilet seat, and the heater control means has an output from the seating detection means. During this period, the control temperature of the heater is changed.

As a result, when seating is detected, the control temperature of the heater is changed, and the temperature is controlled to a comfortable temperature even when seated for a long time, so that a heated toilet seat with comfort and energy saving can be obtained.

In another aspect of the invention, a plurality of high power heating means for heating the seating surface of the toilet seat, a human body detection means for detecting a person using the toilet seat, and a toilet seat surface temperature heated by each of the plurality of high power heating means And a control means for controlling the power supply timing and the power supply time to the plurality of large power heating means based on the outputs of the human body detection means and the temperature detection means. It is a thing.

  With this configuration, for a plurality of high-power heating means, the start and end of heating can be performed at the optimal timing, and the heating control to the optimal temperature can be performed. Energy saving heating is realized.

Further, the plurality of high-power heating means includes a first heater that heats at least a surface of the toilet seat that contacts the human thigh, and a first heater that heats at least a portion of the toilet seat surface that is not heated by the first heater. And a second heater.

  As a result, the plurality of high-power heating means are arranged at different parts of the seating surface of the toilet seat, so that the heating method differs depending on the part in contact with the human body. Since the heating is performed using the above, more uniform heating of the toilet seat surface is possible.

  For example, although the first heater needs to be temporarily supplied with high power, it can be heated immediately. The second heater is not suitable for immediate heating. Effective to do. By taking advantage of these characteristics, the heating timing and the heating temperature are made different for each heating means, so that more optimal energy saving and comfortable heating can be achieved.

The control means is configured not to energize the first heater when no human body is detected by the human body detection means.

  As a result, it is possible to ensure the toilet seat temperature even during severe cold, etc. by realizing the minimum constant temperature retention by the second heater.

  That is, while the human body is not detected by the human body detecting means, the second heater performs low temperature heat insulation on the toilet seat. Even if the human body is detected and the energization of the second heater is finished, the toilet seat peripheral edge once warmed does not immediately lower in temperature. When a human body is detected, the power can be effectively used with an upper limit by supplying power for heating by the first heater and using the power appropriately.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a heating toilet seat according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, a toilet seat 1 has a hollow portion (not shown), houses a heating lamp heater 2 and a temperature control thermistor 3, and sits on the toilet seat 1 in the toilet seat body 1a. A seating sensor 4 for detecting a person who is present, a triac 5 for controlling the lamp heater 2, a zero-cross detection circuit 6 for detecting a zero-cross point of an AC signal from AC 100V, a heater control means 7 for controlling the energization of the lamp heater 2, a buffer 8, A resistor 9 connected in series with the thermistor 3, a signal receiving unit 11 from a human body detection sensor 10 for detecting a person who wants to enter the toilet space in order to use it, and the like are housed. The thermistor 3 is provided in the vicinity of the lamp heater and is attached at a position capable of detecting a temperature approximating the surface temperature of the toilet seat to be heated, and the toilet seat surface temperature is referred to the temperature approximating the toilet seat surface temperature. It is set as the structure which estimates.

  Signals from the human body detection sensor 10, the thermistor 3, the seating sensor 4, and the zero cross detection circuit 6 are input to the heater control means 7, and are calculated from the signal input, and a control signal for the lamp heater 2 is output to the buffer 8. The lamp heater 2 is switching-controlled via the triac 5 and an AC100 voltage is applied to determine the output of the lamp heater 2.

  Here, the human body detection sensor 10 detects a human body with a pyroelectric infrared sensor, and finally transmits the detection signal to the heater control means 7. A signal from the human body detection sensor 10 is received by the signal light receiving unit 11 and input to the heater control means 7.

  With such a configuration, the human body detection sensor 10 detects a human body and starts energizing the lamp heater 2 as a heating means. Before the energization of the lamp heater 2 is started, the thermistor 3 surrounds the lamp heater 2. Is detected, and the application time of the initial voltage to the lamp heater 2 is determined. Since the ambient temperature of the lamp heater 2 has a correlation with the temperature of the toilet seat 1 and the periphery of the toilet seat body 1a, when the temperature is low according to the temperature detected by the thermistor 3, the application time of the initial voltage to the lamp heater 2 is lengthened. When the temperature is high, the application time is shortened so that the toilet seat temperature becomes as constant as possible with respect to the fluctuation of the ambient temperature.

  FIG. 2 is a graph showing the relationship between the detected temperature and the voltage application time to the lamp heater 2. The power of the lamp heater is 600 to 800 watts, and even in the severe winter when the ambient temperature is close to 0 ° C, it is possible to heat the toilet seat 1 to the extent that it does not feel cold by heating for 10 seconds or less, and the ambient temperature exceeds 30 ° C. In summer, the toilet seat can be kept comfortable without heating for less than 1 second or without heating. Naturally, the lamp heater 2 is not energized when not used by a person.

  At this time, the voltage application time to the lamp heater 2 corresponding to the detected temperature is set, for example, in seconds for each section divided every 5 ° C., and the application time is a function of temperature. If necessary, this application time can be set in units of commercial frequency zero crossing (8.3 milliseconds at 60 Hz), which is a controllable unit of the triac 5. By energizing the lamp heater 2 in accordance with the ambient temperature in this way, it is possible to realize a heated toilet seat that has immediate warming performance, is easy to use, and is energy-saving.

  FIG. 3 is a graph showing the relationship between another detected temperature and the voltage application time to the lamp heater 2 in the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 shows that the initial voltage application to the lamp heater 2 is not performed when the detected temperature is 30 ° C. or higher. Thus, when the ambient temperature is high to some extent, the lamp heater 2 is not energized, so that it is possible to realize a heating toilet seat that is easy to use and rich in energy saving.

  FIG. 4 is another configuration diagram of the heating toilet seat according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In FIG. 4, a toilet seat thermistor 12 is installed to measure the surface temperature of the toilet seat 1. The toilet seat thermistor 12 is installed to control the energization of the lamp heater 2 so that the temperature of the toilet seat 1 does not exceed 50 ° C. The upper limit of 50 ° C. is based on a questionnaire of the results of having 10 monitor men and women sitting on a toilet seat kept at 50 ° C. Nine out of ten people answered that they didn't feel particularly hot, and another one said that it wasn't too much to endure. In fact, even when sitting on a toilet seat at 50 ° C., the heat capacity of the human body is large, so the toilet seat temperature rapidly decreases, and the temperature is determined so as not to cause burns.

  As a method of measuring the toilet seat temperature, in addition to the above-described method of installing the dedicated toilet seat thermistor 12, it can be estimated from the temperature of the lamp heater 3 although it is slightly inaccurate.

  Further, the thermistor 3 shown in FIG. 1 not only measures the temperature in the vicinity of the lamp heater 2 before energization, but also measures the temperature during energization of the lamp heater 2 and can determine by the heater control means 7. Therefore, a threshold value for temperature control is set, and when the threshold value is exceeded during the initial voltage application of the lamp heater 2, the energization to the lamp heater 2 is stopped regardless of the remaining time. This also makes it possible to achieve a safe and comfortable instant heating toilet seat by keeping the toilet seat surface temperature constant.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the change over time of the power applied to the lamp heater 2.

  The lamp heater 2 supplied with the initial power of 800 watts keeps the toilet seat 1 warm with the power of 200 watts as long as the power supply is changed to 200 watts after 6 seconds and the user of the toilet seat 1 is seated. Needless to say, the thermistor 3 continues to detect the temperature even when the temperature is kept, and the power supply is stopped when the set temperature is exceeded. Further, the control temperature at the time of heat retention is different from the control temperature at the time of initial power supply, and is set to a temperature comfortable for using the toilet seat 1 for a long time. With such a configuration, it is possible to prevent excessive electric power from being supplied to the lamp heater 2 and to realize an instantaneous heating toilet seat with excellent power saving performance.

  In FIG. 1, a seating sensor 4 as a seating detection means has a light emitting part and a light receiving part of an infrared LED. When a person is seated on the toilet seat 1, light from the light emitting part is reflected on the human body. Then, the seating is detected by detecting it by the light receiving unit. The output is input as a voltage to the heater control means 7, and if it is determined that the user is seated, the lamp heater 2 continues to keep warm by the output from the heater control means 7. When a person stands away from the toilet seat 1, the reflected light cannot be detected by the light receiving unit, so that it is determined that there is no seating, the output voltage disappears, and the heater control means stops supplying power to the lamp heater 2. With such a configuration, it is possible to realize an instantly heated toilet seat that is supplied with electric power only when needed by a person and quickly stops the electric power supply after use.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a heating toilet seat according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

  Here, the difference from Embodiment 1 is that, in addition to the lamp heater 2, a linear cord heater 13 is attached to the top surface of the hollow portion of the toilet seat 1 to warm the toilet seat. The effect of the lamp heater 2 is not different from that of the first embodiment. The code heater 13 is controlled by the output from the heater control means 7 via the buffer 14 and the triac 15, and an AC100 voltage is applied to determine the output of the code heater 13. The control temperature of the code heater 13 is controlled by the thermistor 16. Here, the thermistor 3 for detecting the control temperature of the lamp heater 5 and the thermistor 16 for detecting the control temperature of the cord heater 13 are set differently. Since the applied power and the heating characteristics of each heater (the lamp heater 2 is mainly radiant heating and the code heater 13 is mainly conductive heating), the control temperatures are also different. Since the cord heater 13 has a thin wire diameter, it is installed in the periphery of the hollow portion having no height where the lamp heater 2 cannot be accommodated (therefore, the portion where radiation heating is difficult), and serves as an interpolation heater for the lamp heater 2. By introducing the cord heater 13, the temperature distribution of the toilet seat 1 is improved, and a more comfortable instantaneous heating toilet seat can be provided.

  In addition, in FIG. 6, when the seating sensor 4 no longer detects the seating of the person (when the person finishes using the seat and goes out of the toilet space, the energization control is performed only to the cord heater 13 and the lamp heater 2 is controlled. Since the peripheral part of the toilet seat 1 where the radiant heating of the lamp heater 2 is difficult to reach is warmed up even when a person tries to use it again, the uncomfortable feeling of feeling cold when sitting is reduced. In addition, by setting the control temperature of the cord heater 13 to be around the minimum temperature of 27 ° C. at which human beings do not feel normal, it is possible to reduce the overall energy.

  As described above, the heating toilet seat according to the present invention does not normally supply the power for toilet seat heating, and when the human body is detected, the lamp heater is energized, and by applying power for a time according to the environmental temperature, It can also be applied to safe and energy-saving heating equipment, such as ensuring the safety of heating devices and controlling the heating output frequently depending on the presence or absence of a human body.

The block diagram of the heating toilet seat in Embodiment 1 of this invention The graph which shows the relationship between the thermistor detection temperature in Embodiment 1 of this invention, and the voltage application time to a lamp heater. The graph which shows the relationship between the other thermistor detection temperature in Embodiment 1 of this invention, and the voltage application time to a lamp heater. The other block diagram of the heating toilet seat in Embodiment 1 of this invention The figure which showed the time change of the electric power applied to the lamp heater 2 in Embodiment 1 of this invention. The block diagram of the heating toilet seat in Embodiment 2 of this invention Cross-sectional configuration diagram of a conventional heated toilet seat

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Toilet seat 2 Lamp heater 3, 16 Thermistor 4 Seating sensor 5, 15 Triac 7 Heater control means 10 Human body detection sensor 13 Code heater

Claims (9)

According to the heater for heating the toilet seat, the human body detection means for detecting a person using the toilet seat, the temperature detection means provided in the vicinity of the heater, the output of the human body detection means, and the detected temperature of the temperature detection means A heater control means for controlling an initial voltage application time of the heater, and the temperature detection means detects a temperature in the vicinity of the heater and estimates a temperature of a seating surface of the toilet seat. A heater for heating the toilet seat, a human body detecting means for detecting a person using the toilet seat, a temperature detecting means for measuring a surface temperature of the toilet seat, an output of the human body detecting means, and a detected temperature of the temperature detecting means. And a heater control means for controlling an initial voltage application time of the heater in response to the heater control means, based on the output of the temperature detection means, the temperature of the seating surface of the toilet seat during application of the initial voltage to a predetermined temperature. Heated toilet seat that is controlled so as not to exceed. The heater control means determines the detection temperature of the temperature detection means in a plurality of stages, and is set so that the energization time when the heater initial voltage is applied is sequentially shortened as the detected temperature is changed from a low stage to a high stage. Heated toilet seat as described. The heating toilet seat according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the heater control means does not apply the initial voltage if the temperature detected by the temperature detection means is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature. The heating toilet seat according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the heater control means controls the temperature of the toilet seat surface when the initial voltage is applied so as not to exceed 50 ° C. The heating toilet seat according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the heater control means stops the initial voltage application energization when the temperature detected by the temperature detection means reaches a predetermined temperature or more before the initial voltage application energization ends. The heating toilet seat according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the control temperature of the heater is changed after energization of the initial voltage is completed. It has seating detection means for detecting that a person is seated on the toilet seat, and the heater control means supplies power to the heater while there is an output from the seating detection means, and outputs from the seating detection means The heating toilet seat according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein power supplied to the heater is stopped when power is lost. The seating detection means for detecting that a person is seated on the toilet seat, and the heater control means changes the control temperature of the heater while there is an output from the seating detection means. 1. A heated toilet seat according to item 1.