JP2006134155A - Living behavior monitoring device and method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a living behavior monitoring device which monitors the living behaviors, using a simple constitution. <P>SOLUTION: Shock sensors SS1 to SS6 are arranged so as to come into contact with water pipes for a household or the outside of distributing water pipes. When water flows in water pipes W11, W12, W13 or in household drainpipes W14, W15, W16, vibrations caused by flowing of the water which are transmitted to the water pipes and drainpipes are detected by the shock sensors SS1 to SS6. The safety of a resident T1 can be known so that the detected results are notified from a controller 50 to predetermined contacting addresses. Erroneous detection can be also prevented by detecting the time difference between water supply and sewerage. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a daily activity monitoring device, and particularly relates to a simple detection process.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a monitoring system that uses a metered value of water usage to monitor water leakage, human presence / survival, normality, and the like.

JP 2002-133573

  However, in order to attach a device to a water meter meter, permission of the Waterworks Bureau is required, and obtaining the permission is complicated. Also, in general homes and the like, when the water meter is in the ground, the meter may be submerged by rain, and waterproofing is required when attaching the sensor to the meter-reading meter located in such a position. .

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a life monitoring system that can monitor living activities with a simple structure.

  1) A living behavior monitoring device according to the present invention is a living behavior monitoring device that monitors the living behavior of a subject by detecting data generated as a result of living behavior performed by the subject in a house. B) Sewer pipe shock sensor attached to a sewer pipe disposed in the house, C) Judgment means for receiving detection data from the sewer pipe shock sensor and judging whether water has flowed in the sewer pipe, D) Informing means for informing the judgment result from the judging means is provided. Thus, by detecting the flowing water to the sewer pipe with the shock sensor, it is possible to grasp the living behavior with a simple configuration. In addition, it is possible to select an installation position where there is no concern about submergence.

  2) The living behavior monitoring device according to the present invention is a living behavior monitoring device for monitoring the living behavior of the subject person by detecting data generated as a result of the living behavior performed by the subject person in the house. B) Water pipe shock sensor attached to a water pipe disposed in a house, C) Judgment means for receiving detection data from the water pipe shock sensor and judging whether water has flowed in the water pipe, D) Informing means for informing the judgment result from the judging means is provided. Thus, by detecting the flowing water to the sewer pipe with the shock sensor, it is possible to grasp the living behavior with a simple configuration. In addition, it is possible to select an installation position where there is no concern about submergence.

  3) The living behavior monitoring apparatus according to the present invention further includes a water pipe shock sensor attached to a water pipe arranged in a house, and the determination means does not start detection from both shock sensors, Judged as false detection. Therefore, erroneous detection due to the shock sensor detecting other vibrations can be prevented.

  4) The living behavior monitoring apparatus according to the present invention determines that the determination means is a false detection when the time deviation of the detection from both shock sensors exceeds a predetermined relationship.

  5) In the daily activity monitoring device according to the present invention, the shock sensor detects a vibration of 1 kHz to 16 kHz. Therefore, the determination means determines whether water has flowed based on the vibration in the frequency band. Thereby, erroneous detection can be prevented.

  6) In the daily activity monitoring device according to the present invention, the shock sensor detects a vibration of 2 kHz to 8 kHz. Therefore, the determination means determines whether water has flowed based on the vibration in the frequency band. Thereby, erroneous detection can be prevented.

  7) In the daily activity monitoring device according to the present invention, the shock sensor detects a vibration of about 4 kHz. Therefore, the determination means determines whether water has flowed based on the vibration in the frequency band. Thereby, erroneous detection can be prevented.

  8) The living behavior detection apparatus according to the present invention further includes a temperature sensor in the sewer pipe, and the determination means determines whether water has flowed in the sewer pipe by a change in detection data from the temperature sensor. . Accordingly, it is possible to provide a living behavior detection device with fewer false detections.

9) The living behavior detection device according to the present invention is a living behavior detection device for monitoring the living behavior of the subject person by detecting data generated as a result of the living behavior performed by the subject person in the house. B) The vibration of the water pipe shock sensor attached in contact with the outer surface of the water pipe or the sewer pipe arranged in the house can be detected so that the vibration of the water pipe arranged in the house can be detected. Detection data receiving means for receiving detection data from a sewer pipe shock sensor attached in contact with the outer surface of the sewer pipe, and Judgment means for judging is provided. Therefore, the living behavior can be detected with a simple configuration only by providing the shock sensor. In addition, it is possible to select an installation position where there is no concern about submergence.

  10) The living behavior monitoring method according to the present invention is a living behavior monitoring method for monitoring the living behavior of the subject person by detecting data generated as a result of the living behavior performed by the subject person in the house. B) Attach a sewer pipe shock sensor to a sewer pipe installed in the house, C) Receive detection data from the sewer pipe shock sensor, determine whether water has flowed through the sewer pipe, and D) Notify the registered report target person. Thus, by detecting the flowing water to the sewer pipe with the shock sensor, it is possible to grasp the living behavior with a simple configuration. In addition, it is possible to select an installation position where there is no concern about submergence.

  11) The living behavior detection device according to the present invention is a living behavior monitoring device for monitoring the living behavior of the subject person by detecting data generated as a result of the living behavior performed by the subject person in the house. B) A temperature sensor attached to a water supply pipe or a sewer pipe disposed in a house, and C) a determination means for determining whether water has flowed in the water supply pipe or the sewer pipe by a change in detection data from the temperature sensor. D) Informing means for informing the judgment result from the judging means is provided. Therefore, it is possible to grasp the living behavior with a simple configuration. In addition, it is possible to select an installation position where there is no concern about submergence.

  In the present specification, the “water pipe” refers to a water pipe disposed in a home, and in the embodiment, home water pipes W1, W11 to W13 are applicable. Further, the “sewer pipe” refers to a drain pipe disposed in the home, and in the embodiment, drain pipes W2 and W14 to W16 are applicable. In addition, “running water” includes only water in the case of clean water, but includes components other than water in the case of sewage. That is, it is a concept including a fluid containing moisture.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the life monitoring apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1, six sensors SS1 to SS6 are provided. The sensor SS1 is in the toilet water pipe W11 of the toilet, the sensor SS4 is in the toilet drain pipe W14, the sensor SS2 is in the kitchen home water pipe W12, the sensor SS5 is in the kitchen drain pipe W15, and the sensor SS3 is in the bathroom home. In the internal water pipe W13, the sensor SS6 is installed on the drain pipe W16 of the bath in contact with the outside of the pipe. In this embodiment, the sensors SS1 and SS4 are used as the sensors of the group g1, the sensors SS2 and SS5 are used as the sensors of the group g2, and the sensors SS3 and SS6 are used as the sensors of the group g3. Grouped. The reason for grouping will be described later.

  The domestic water pipes W11, W12, W13 are branch pipes of the domestic water pipe W1, and the drain pipes W14, W15, W16 are branch pipes of the drain pipe W2.

  When water flows in the domestic water pipes W11, W12, W13 or the drain pipes W14, W15, W16, this vibration is transmitted to the water pipe or the drain pipe. Each of the sensors SS1 to SS6 is a shock sensor and detects vibration transmitted to the water pipe or the drain pipe. In this embodiment, PKS1-4A manufactured by Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. is used as the shock sensor.

  Detection results from the sensors SS1 to SS6 are given to the controller 50. The hardware configuration of the controller 50 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is an example of a hardware configuration in which the controller 50 is configured using a CPU.

  The controller 50 includes a CPU 23, a memory 27, an I / F 28, a communication unit 32, and a bus line 29.

  A part of the memory 27 is constituted by a flash memory (not shown), and a program for controlling the CPU 23 is stored in the flash memory. In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, notification processing data is stored in the flash memory. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the ID “12345”, the contact address “abc@xxx.ne.jp”, and the regular contact time “10:00:00, 15:00:00, 19:00:00” are stored. ing.

  When the detection voltage (pulse signal) is given from the sensors SS1 to SS6, the I / F 28 converts this into digital data.

  Next, processing in this apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. Below, the case where the toilet DW1 shown in FIG. 1 is used is demonstrated.

  When the toilet DW1 is used, first, the drainage sensor SS4 detects flowing water. The CPU 23 determines whether or not a detection voltage is applied from any of the sensors (sensors SS1 to SS6) (step S1 in FIG. 4). In this case, first, since the sensor SS4 performs detection, the process proceeds to step S3. The CPU 23 determines the type of sensor in step S3. In this case, since the sensor SS4 is a sensor of the group g1, does the sensor SS1 detect running water within a predetermined time after the detection of the sensor SS4? It is determined whether or not (step S5). In this case, since the toilet DW1 is used, the sensor SS1 detects the flowing water by supplying water to the tank immediately after the draining sensor SS4 detects the flowing water.

  After detecting the sensor SS4, the CPU 23 starts counting the start of use because the sensor SS1 detects flowing water within a predetermined time (step S7). The CPU 23 determines whether or not a detection signal is given from the sensor SS1 even if 3 minutes or more have elapsed from the start of counting (step S9). In this case, the sensor SS4 stops detection when the use of the toilet DW1 ends, and also stops detection from the sensor SS1 when water supply to the tank ends. Therefore, the detection stops, and the CPU 23 stores the data as a normal end (step S13), and ends the process. For example, in addition to the type of sensor, the detection start time and the detection end time may be stored.

  When the sensor SS4 starts detection due to vibration other than flowing water of the drain pipe W14, detection by the sensor SS1 is not performed. Therefore, the process proceeds from step S5 to step S15, where it is determined that a malfunction has occurred (step S10), and the process ends. Further, when there is no detection of the sensor SS4 and only the sensor SS1 detects, it is determined as a malfunction in step S15.

  Also, if for some reason, the count starts in step S7 and the detection continues from the sensor SS1 or sensor SS2 of the water pipe even after 3 minutes have passed, the process proceeds from step S9 to step S11, and an abnormality is detected. It is determined that it has occurred, this is stored, and the process is terminated.

  Thus, by providing a sensor in the water and sewage pipe and determining whether these time lags are within a predetermined range, it is possible to detect normal use of the water and sewage in the toilet DW1.

  Next, the case where the water tap DW2 in the kitchen is used will be described. In this case, the water supply sensor SS2 detects flowing water. The CPU 23 determines whether or not a detection voltage is applied from any of the sensors (sensors SS1 to SS6) (step S1 in FIG. 4). In this case, first, when there is detection from the sensor SS2, the process proceeds to step S3. The CPU 23 determines from which sensor the detection is made (step S3). In this case, since the sensor SS2 is a sensor of the group g2, the CPU 23 determines whether or not the sensor SS5 detects running water within 5 seconds after the detection of the sensor SS2 (step S21). Since the used water flows into the sewage when the water supply DW2 is started, the sensor SS5 detects the flowing water immediately after the water supply sensor SS2 detects the flowing water. Therefore, since the sensor SS5 has detected flowing water within the predetermined time after the detection of the sensor SS2, the CPU 23 starts counting the start of use (step S23). The CPU 23 determines whether or not the detection signal is continuously received from the sensor SS2 of the water pipe even when 5 minutes or more have elapsed from the start of counting (step S25). In this case, the sensor SS2 stops detection when the use of the water supply DW2 ends, and when the drainage ends, detection from the sensor SS5 also stops. Therefore, when normal use ends, the detection stops, and the CPU 23 stores data as normal end (step S29), and ends the process.

  When the sensor SS2 starts detection due to vibration other than flowing water in the water pipe W12, detection by the sensor SS5 is not performed. Therefore, the process proceeds from step S21 to step S22, and it is determined that a malfunction has occurred, and the process ends. Similarly, when detection is started for the sensor SS5, detection by the sensor SS2 is not performed, so that the process ends as a malfunction.

  Further, if for some reason the count starts in step S23 and the detection continues from the sensor SS2 or the sensor SS5 of the water pipe even after 5 minutes have passed, the process proceeds from step S25 to step S27, and an abnormality is detected. It is determined that it has occurred, this is stored, and the process is terminated. In this way, normal use and abnormal use of the water and sewage system of the water toilet DW2 can be detected.

  Next, a case where the bath DW3 is used will be described. In the bath, various actions can be considered, such as storing water in bathtub B, using a shower, and discharging stored water. Therefore, in this embodiment, when the sensor SS3 or the sensor SS6 does not stop for a predetermined time or longer after the detection is started, it is assumed that an abnormality is detected, and otherwise it is determined to be normal. That is, when the detection signal from the sensor SS3 or the sensor SS6 is given, the CPU 23 determines that the sensor is of the group g3 (step S3), and starts the use start count (step S31). If the CPU 23 continues to detect from the sensors SS3 and SS6 even if 50 minutes or more have elapsed from the start of counting or the daily activities in the bath have started counting and 50 minutes or more have elapsed, the process from step S33 is performed. Proceeding to S25, it is determined that an abnormality has occurred, this is stored, and the process is terminated. Further, when the detection is completed within 50 minutes from the start of counting, the process is terminated as normal use. In this way, it is possible to detect normal use of the water and sewage system of the bath DW3.

  Next, the monitoring result report will be described with reference to FIG. First, the CPU 23 determines whether or not an abnormality has been detected (step S41). If there is an abnormality, a transmission command is given to the communication unit 32 so as to transmit a mail informing that the abnormality has been detected to a designated address. Thereby, it is notified that there is an abnormality addressed to “abc@xxx.ne.jp” shown in FIG. In addition, you may make it alert | report together the kind of sensor which detected abnormality. For example, “the bath water supply or drainage sensor has detected running water for 30 minutes or more”. Thereby, it can be understood that an abnormality has occurred in the bath. It should be noted that the mail wording informing that an abnormality has been detected may be created and stored in advance for each sensor, or may be created each time, and a conventionally known method can be used.

  CPU23 judges whether it is a normal monitoring report time, when abnormality is not detected in figure step S41 (step S45). What is necessary is just to judge whether the normal monitoring report time came to the regular contact time shown in FIG. For example, in this case, at 10 am, 3 pm, and 7 pm, the sensor type and start and end times stored in steps S13, S29, and S37 in FIG. 4 are notified by mail. In this way, by notifying that the monitoring target person T1 has used water, it is possible to know the safety of the monitoring target person.

  In this way, by providing a shock sensor so as to be in contact with the water and sewage pipe and notifying the detection result, it is possible to grasp the living behavior using the water supply with a simple configuration.

  Moreover, when detecting the flowing water operation in the pipe by the shock sensor, it is conceivable that the vibration from the pipe to which the sensor is connected is erroneously detected. For example, in the case of an apartment house, it is running water in an adjacent room. In the present embodiment, when there is no detection from both of the water and sewage pipes, not only is it detected as a malfunction, but also the order can be specified, so malfunction can be prevented more reliably. Further, when the water and sewage are simultaneously observed, it may be determined that the surrounding vibration is detected by mistake.

Four. Other Embodiments A temperature sensor may be employed instead of or in addition to the shock sensor to detect a temperature change. Specifically, it may be determined whether there has been running water based on a change in the detection value given from the temperature sensor. This is because the temperature of the water supply system causes a temperature difference because water that is outside the room (approximately the same as the outdoor temperature) is newly injected during running water. Moreover, it is because a temperature difference is detected also with respect to a sewer by the inflow of water from a waterworks. In the case of sewerage, use by hot water supply etc. can be considered on the way, but even in that case, a temperature change occurs. In addition, about a temperature sensor, there is some delay in the change at the time of flowing water (about 10 seconds). Since the present invention aims to determine whether there is water or sewage use, such a delay does not matter. When a shock sensor and a temperature sensor are used together, a safety confirmation system with fewer false detections can be provided. When a temperature sensor is used instead of a shock sensor, a safety confirmation system with a simple configuration and few false detections can be provided. Can provide.

  In this embodiment, PKS1-4A manufactured by Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. is used as the shock sensor. The reason for selection will be described. In the present embodiment, vibration is detected when clean water or sewage flows through the pipe. However, if all vibrations are detected, other vibrations may be erroneously detected. Therefore, the inventor attached a microphone to the tube and measured the characteristics of the sound detected by the microphone. As a result, the results shown in FIGS. 6 to 9 were obtained in flowing water and non-flowing water. 6 to 9 are bar graphs, in which the horizontal axis represents the frequency band and the vertical axis represents the detected vibration intensity (decibel). 6 shows a hot water supply room (when not flowing water), FIG. 7 shows a hot water supply room (when flowing water), FIG. 8 shows a classroom (when flowing water), and FIG. 9 shows a toilet (when flowing water). In addition, it is not an instantaneous value, but a case where this has continued for a predetermined time (for example, 10 seconds). For example, in FIG. 6, a 2 kHz sound is detected at 6 dB.

  At the time of non-flowing water, as shown in FIG. 6, most of the sounds of 31.5 Hz and 63 Hz are detected, and the other 125 Hz or higher are hardly detected. On the other hand, at the time of running water, as shown in FIG. 7, a sound in a frequency band of 2 kHz to 16 kHz is detected. Also, 31.5Hz and 63Hz sounds are increasing. In addition, as shown in FIG. 8, the classroom has a similar tendency. In this case, a sound having a frequency band of 1 kHz to 8 kHz that is slightly lower than that in FIG. 7 is detected (the sound in the frequency band of 16 kHz has almost no change). In addition, as shown in FIG. 9, in the case of a toilet, detection is generally performed in all frequency bands except sounds in the 16 kHz frequency band.

  From this detection result, the vibration frequency to be detected is desirably a frequency band of 1 kHz to 16 kHz, preferably 2 kHz to 8 kHz, and more preferably about 4 kHz.

  In addition, in the said embodiment, although the case where six sensors were provided was demonstrated, it will not be limited to this, if it provides with a set in a water and sewage pipe.

As a simpler configuration, a shock sensor may be used only for the water pipe or the drain pipe. Note that the shock sensor can also capture weak vibrations that cannot be detected as audible sounds.
In the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which a sensor is provided for each facility, and conditions for detecting malfunction using these time lags are different, but the present invention is not limited to this. In addition, about a time lag, based on a subject's living behavior, the detection result by typical use is memorize | stored previously, and if it corresponds to either, a count should be started.

  Further, the time from the start to the end of the count may be determined according to the living behavior, and is not limited to the above embodiment.

  Further, in the present embodiment, a case has been described in which notification is made directly to a designated address from the controller 50. However, the detection result from the controller 50 is temporarily stored in a center computer (not shown), and then sent from the center computer. You may make it report by e-mail. In this case, the ID and the detection result may be transmitted to the center computer. Further, information relating to the report as shown in FIG. 3 may be stored in the center computer.

In addition to a mail, a known method such as a telephone can be used as a notification method.
Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the case where this invention was grasped | ascertained as a living action monitoring apparatus was demonstrated, it can also be grasped | ascertained as a living action detection apparatus. In this case, the sewer pipe can be detected so that the vibration of the water pipe shock sensor attached in contact with the outer surface of the water pipe or the sewer pipe disposed in the house can be detected so that the vibration of the water pipe can be detected. Detection data receiving means for receiving detection data from a sewer pipe shock sensor attached in contact with the outer surface of the water pipe is provided, and based on the detection data, it is determined whether water has flowed in the water pipe or the sewer pipe. That's fine. Moreover, what is necessary is just to produce | generate monitoring data using this detection result.

  Further, a temperature sensor may be added in addition to the shock sensor of the water supply pipe and / or the sewer pipe. Thus, the flowing water can be detected indirectly from the temperature of the pipe. Thus, the use situation can be grasped by observing the temperature difference accompanying the running water of the water and sewage system by the difference between the water temperature and the room temperature.

  The shock sensor may be installed around the U-shaped pipe of the drain pipe. This is because the U-shaped pipe portion has the largest running water vibration, so the sensor sensitivity adjustment range is large, and malfunctions due to other ambient vibrations can be avoided.

  In the present embodiment, a shock sensor is provided on the outer wall of the pipe to detect the state of running water. A malfunction may be considered for the characteristic value detected by the shock sensor. Such a malfunctioning frequency band vibration may be filtered and cut off.

  In the above embodiment, the CPU is used to realize the function shown in FIG. 1, and this is realized by software. However, some or all of them may be realized by hardware such as a logic circuit.

  Note that an operating system (OS) may be used separately from the program, and a part of the processing may be performed by the OS.

It is a schematic diagram of life monitoring device 1 concerning the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the hardware constitution which implement | achieved the controller 50 shown in FIG. 1 using CPU. It is data which shows an example for a normal monitoring report. It is a flowchart which judges abnormality and normality from the detection process of a sensor. It is a detection result report flowchart. It is a vibration detection result. It is a vibration detection result. It is a vibration detection result. It is a vibration detection result.

Explanation of symbols

23 ... CPU
27 ... Memory SS1 to SS6 ... Shock sensor

Claims (11)

A living behavior monitoring device that monitors the living behavior of the subject by detecting data generated as a result of living behavior performed by the subject in the house,
Sewer pipe shock sensor attached to the sewer pipe placed in the house,
Means for receiving detection data from the sewer pipe shock sensor and judging whether water has flowed in the sewer pipe;
Informing means for informing the judgment result from the judging means,
A living behavior monitoring device characterized by comprising: A living behavior monitoring device for monitoring the living behavior of the subject by detecting data generated as a result of living behavior performed by the subject in the house,
A water pipe shock sensor attached to a water pipe arranged in the house,
Judgment means for receiving detection data from the water pipe shock sensor and judging whether water has flowed in the water pipe,
Informing means for informing the judgment result from the judging means,
A living behavior monitoring device characterized by comprising: The living activity monitoring device according to claim 1,
It has a water pipe shock sensor attached to a water pipe arranged in the house,
The determination means determines that it is a false detection when the detection is not started from both shock sensors;
It is characterized by. The living activity monitoring device according to claim 3,
The determination means determines that the detection from both shock sensors is a false detection when the time deviation exceeds a predetermined relationship;
It is characterized by. In the living behavior monitoring device according to claim 1 or 2,
The shock sensor detects vibration of 1 kHz to 16 kHz;
It is characterized by. The living behavior monitoring device according to claim 4,
The shock sensor detects vibration of 2 kHz to 8 kHz;
It is characterized by. The living behavior monitoring device according to claim 5,
The shock sensor detects vibration of about 4 kHz;
It is characterized by. The living behavior monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
A temperature sensor is provided in the sewer pipe,
The determination means determines whether water has flowed in the sewer pipe by a change in detection data from the temperature sensor;
It is characterized by. A) A living behavior detecting device for detecting the living behavior of the subject by detecting data generated as a result of living behavior performed by the subject in the house,
B) In order to detect vibration of a water pipe arranged in the house, it is possible to detect vibration of a water pipe shock sensor attached in contact with the outer surface of the water pipe or a sewer pipe arranged in the house. A detection data receiving means for receiving detection data from a sewer pipe shock sensor attached in contact with the outer surface of the sewer pipe,
C) Determination means for determining whether water has flowed in the water supply pipe or the sewer pipe based on the detection data;
A living behavior detecting device characterized by comprising: A living behavior monitoring method for monitoring the living behavior of the subject by detecting data generated as a result of living behavior performed by the subject in the house,
Attach a sewer pipe shock sensor to the sewer pipe placed in the house,
Receiving detection data from the sewer pipe shock sensor, determining whether water has flowed through the sewer pipe,
Informing the reportee who has registered the judgment results in advance,
A lifestyle monitoring method characterized by this. A living behavior monitoring device for monitoring the living behavior of the subject by detecting data generated as a result of living behavior performed by the subject in the house,
A temperature sensor attached to a water pipe or sewer pipe located in the house,
Judgment means for judging whether water has flowed in the water supply pipe or sewer pipe due to a change in detection data from the temperature sensor;
Informing means for informing the judgment result from the judging means,
A living behavior monitoring device characterized by comprising:

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