JP2007247158A - Urinal flushing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a urinal flushing system which prevents an automatic flushing function from erroneously being operated due to the interference of electric waves emitted a plurality of Doppler sensors. <P>SOLUTION: This urinal flushing system is concurrently equipped with a plurality of urinals with the automatic flushing function of automatically flushing a urinal after use by detecting a human body and urine by the Doppler sensors. A control means which is provided in one of the plurality of urinals, performs the main control function of transmitting operation timing information, specifying the operation timing of the Doppler sensor, to control means of the other urinals via a transmission means, so that the Doppler sensors provided in the urinals, respectively, can peform intermittent operations so as to prevent operating terms of them from overlapping one another. The respective control means which receive the operation timing information perform the sub-control function of making the respective Doppler sensors perform the intermittent operations on the basis of the operation timing information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a urinal cleaning system having an automatic cleaning function.

  Conventionally, for toilets in public facilities, etc., an automatic cleaning function that automatically detects the human body and urine and cleans the urinals in each of a plurality of urinals that are arranged at intervals of 1 meter or less. A urinal cleaning system was introduced.

  However, since this urinal washing system is provided with a plurality of urinals having an automatic washing function, if a Doppler sensor that detects a human body or urine provided in each urinal is operated at the same time, There was a risk that the automatic cleaning function would malfunction due to interference between transmitted radio waves.

  In other words, in the case of this urinal washing system, since other Doppler sensors are provided within the reach of the radio wave transmitted from a certain Doppler sensor, each Doppler sensor provided in the urinal provided therewith transmits. When the frequency of the radio wave to be used is close to the frequency of the radio wave used for detecting the human body or urine, there is a problem that the radio waves interfere with each other.

  In order to eliminate such problems, prepare several types of Doppler sensors with the frequency shifted by a predetermined interval so that interference between radio waves does not occur, and install so that urinals close to the frequency are not placed in a predetermined area Was. For this reason, it has been necessary to consider that urinals having frequencies close to a predetermined area are not arranged in a predetermined area during construction or failure.

Further, as for radio wave interference of the Doppler sensor in the above-described urinal washing system, a device that prevents interference between radio waves generated when the Doppler sensor is turned on has been devised (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2004-293046 A

  However, in the above conventional urinal washing system, the occurrence of interference between radio waves when the Doppler sensor is turned on can be prevented, but urinals equipped with Doppler sensors that transmit radio waves having a frequency close to a predetermined area are arranged. There was no change in the point that we had to be careful not to make it happen, and there was still room for improvement.

  That is, in this urinal cleaning system, the reach of radio waves of the Doppler sensor is several meters, and in this urinal cleaning system, urinals are installed at intervals of about 1 meter shorter than the radio wave reach of the Doppler sensors. Therefore, in order to prevent radio wave interference, it is necessary to provide several types of Doppler sensors with different frequencies so that the urinals of close frequencies are separated from each other by a predetermined distance. Therefore, there is a risk that the rate of return of profit to the manufacturing cost of the urinal provided with the Doppler sensor may be reduced.

  In addition, when replacing the Doppler sensor by performing maintenance or inspection of the urinal cleaning system, a Doppler sensor with the same frequency as before replacement is required, and when installing a new urinal in the toilet, The frequency of the Doppler sensor of the toilet bowl is confirmed, and a Doppler sensor different from the frequency has to be prepared, which is complicated.

  Therefore, in the present invention according to claim 1, a plurality of urinals, a transmission unit that is provided in each of the plurality of urinals and transmits a radio wave toward the ball portion in the urinal, and a radio wave transmitted by the transmission unit Provided in each of a plurality of urinals, a Doppler sensor provided with a receiving means for receiving reflection and a difference signal generating means for generating a difference signal between the frequency of the transmitted radio wave and the frequency of the received radio wave, In a urinal washing system having a control means for detecting a human body or urine based on and a cleaning means for cleaning the toilet bowl based on a detection result by the control means, each provided in the urinal, Communication means for communicating with the control means is provided, and the control means provided in one of the plurality of urinals is controlled by each control means including the control means. The main control function is executed to transmit the operation timing information specifying the operation timing of the Doppler sensor to the control means of the other urinals via the communication means so that the error sensors are intermittently operated so that their operation periods do not overlap each other. Then, each control means that has received the operation timing information executes a slave control function for intermittently operating each Doppler sensor based on the operation timing information.

  Moreover, in this invention which concerns on Claim 2, in the urinal washing system of Claim 1, operation | movement timing information is the information which designates the start timing of the intermittent operation | movement of each Doppler sensor provided in the other urinals, And information specifying the operation interval of each Doppler sensor during intermittent operation, and information specifying the intermittent operation period of each Doppler sensor.

  Moreover, in this invention which concerns on Claim 3, in the urinal washing system of Claim 1 or Claim 2, operation | movement timing information makes the operation | movement start of a Doppler sensor start to the control means provided in the other urinal. The control means that includes the permitted operation start permission information and executes the sub control function is characterized in that the Doppler sensor is intermittently operated every time the operation start permission information is received via the communication means.

  Moreover, in this invention which concerns on Claim 4, in the urinal washing system of any one of Claims 1-3, the control means which is performing the main control function performs the main control function next. After determining means for determining other control means, and transmitting the main control function start permission information permitting execution of the main control function to the control means determined by the determination means via the communication means at a predetermined timing, A secondary control function is executed.

  Further, in the present invention according to claim 5, in the urinal washing system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, each control means intermittently operates the Doppler sensor during a first intermittent operation period to cause a human body. In order to detect urine, the Doppler sensor is operated for a second intermittent operation period shorter than the first intermittent operation period.

  The present invention has the following effects.

  That is, in the present invention according to claim 1, a plurality of urinals, a transmission unit that is provided in each of the plurality of urinals and transmits a radio wave toward a ball portion in the urinal, and a radio wave transmitted by the transmission unit Provided in each of a plurality of urinals, a Doppler sensor provided with a receiving means for receiving reflection and a difference signal generating means for generating a difference signal between the frequency of the transmitted radio wave and the frequency of the received radio wave, In a urinal washing system having a control means for detecting a human body or urine based on and a cleaning means for cleaning the toilet bowl based on a detection result by the control means, each provided in the urinal, A communication means that communicates with the control means, and the control means provided in one of the plurality of urinals is controlled by each control means including the control means. In order to intermittently operate the puller sensors so that their operation periods do not overlap each other, a main control function for transmitting operation timing information for specifying the operation timing of the Doppler sensor to the control unit of another urinal through the communication unit. Each control means that executes and receives the operation timing information executes a sub-control function that intermittently operates each Doppler sensor based on the operation timing information. When a plurality of urinals are installed, a Doppler sensor that transmits radio waves of the same frequency can be diverted to each urinal, regardless of the number of urinals to be installed. You can check the specifications of each Doppler sensor when adding more urinals or when performing maintenance inspections of urinals. It is not necessary to perform a kind of complicated work, it is possible to easily perform the additional work and maintenance and inspection work of the urinal.

  Moreover, in this invention which concerns on Claim 2, in the urinal washing system of Claim 1, operation | movement timing information is the information which designates the start timing of the intermittent operation | movement of each Doppler sensor provided in the other urinals, And the operation timing by the control means for executing the main control function because it includes information specifying the operation interval of each Doppler sensor during intermittent operation and information specifying the intermittent operation period of each Doppler sensor. The number of information transmissions can be reduced as much as possible, and the power consumption required for the operation of the communication means can be reduced as much as possible.

  Moreover, in this invention which concerns on Claim 3, in the urinal washing system of Claim 1 or Claim 2, operation | movement timing information makes the operation | movement start of a Doppler sensor start to the control means provided in the other urinal. Each of the Doppler sensors includes the operation start permission information to be permitted, and the control means for executing the sub control function intermittently operates the Doppler sensor every time the operation start permission information is received via the communication means. It is possible to reliably prevent the operation periods from overlapping, and to reliably prevent malfunction of the automatic cleaning function.

  Moreover, in this invention which concerns on Claim 4, in the urinal washing system of any one of Claims 1-3, the control means which is performing the main control function performs the main control function next. After determining means for determining other control means, and transmitting the main control function start permission information permitting execution of the main control function to the control means determined by the determination means via the communication means at a predetermined timing, Since the slave control function is executed, the control means provided in a plurality of urinals can execute the main control function in order, so that the power consumption for each control means is equalized. Can do.

  Further, in the present invention according to claim 5, in the urinal washing system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, each control means intermittently operates the Doppler sensor during a first intermittent operation period to cause a human body. In order to detect urine, the Doppler sensor is operated for a second intermittent operation period shorter than the first intermittent operation period to detect urine. Since the intermittent operation period is shortened, the intermittent operation cycle of the Doppler sensor can be shortened, so that the detection accuracy of the human body and urine can be improved.

  The urinal cleaning system according to the present invention includes a plurality of urinal devices having an automatic cleaning function for automatically detecting a toilet user (human body) and a user's urine and automatically cleaning the toilet after use. This system is applied to a toilet in which a plurality of toilets are installed, such as a toilet in a public facility.

  The urinal washing system is provided in each of the plurality of urinals and the plurality of urinals, and transmits microwaves (hereinafter referred to as “radio waves”) to the ball portion in each urinal. Transmitting means for receiving, receiving means for receiving the reflection of the radio wave transmitted by the transmitting means, and a differential signal for generating a differential signal indicating a difference between the frequency of the radio wave transmitted by the transmitting means and the frequency of the radio wave received by the receiving means A Doppler sensor including a generation unit, a control unit that is provided in each urinal and detects a human body or urine based on a difference signal output from the difference signal generation unit, and a detection result by the control unit Cleaning means for automatically cleaning the urinal.

  In particular, each urinal constituting the urinal washing system includes a communication unit that communicates with a control unit included in another urinal by the control of the control unit described above. By communicating with each other between the communication means, malfunction of the automatic cleaning function due to interference between radio waves transmitted and received from a Doppler sensor provided in a urinal disposed in the vicinity is prevented.

  That is, in this urinal washing system, the control means provided in one of the plurality of urinals does not overlap the operation period of each Doppler sensor controlled by each control means including this control means. In order to intermittently operate, the main control function for transmitting the operation timing information for specifying the operation timing of the Doppler sensor is executed to the control means included in the other urinals via the communication means, and the operation timing information is received. The control means executes a slave control function for intermittently operating each of the Doppler sensors based on the operation timing information.

  As a result, the Doppler sensors provided in each of the plurality of urinals do not transmit and receive radio waves at the same time, so the radio waves transmitted and received from nearby Doppler sensors interfere with each other and are automatically cleaned. It is possible to solve the problem that the function malfunctions.

  Moreover, according to this urinal washing system, even when all Doppler sensors detect the human body and urine using the same or near frequency radio waves, there is no interference between radio waves. It is not necessary to prepare Doppler sensors that transmit and receive radio waves of multiple types of frequencies, and when installing multiple urinals with an automatic cleaning function, regardless of the number of urinals installed, Since the Doppler sensor that transmits radio waves of the same frequency can be diverted to the urinal, it is possible to improve the return rate of profits for manufacturing costs, and when urinals are added or maintenance inspections are performed. When performing, it is not necessary to perform complicated operations such as checking the specifications of each Doppler sensor, so that it is possible to easily perform urinal expansion work and maintenance inspection work.

  The operation timing information transmitted from the control means for executing the main control function to the control means for executing the sub control function is intermittently transmitted by each Doppler sensor of another urinal provided with the control means for executing the sub control function. Information specifying the operation start timing, information specifying the operation interval of each Doppler sensor during intermittent operation, and information specifying the intermittent operation period of each Doppler sensor are included.

  Therefore, the number of transmissions of the operation timing information by the control means that executes the main control function can be reduced as much as possible, and the power consumption required for the operation of the communication means can be reduced as much as possible.

  Also, instead of this operation timing information, operation start permission information for permitting operation start of the Doppler sensor can be used as operation timing information for the control means provided in other urinals to execute the sub control function. When the control means for executing the slave control function receives the operation start permission information via the communication means, the control means intermittently operates the Doppler sensor.

  When such operation timing information is used, the control means for executing the sub-control function stops the operation after operating the Doppler sensor for a predetermined period of time, or controls to execute the main control function By transmitting an operation prohibiting signal including information for prohibiting the operation of the means to the control means for executing the sub control function, the control means for executing the sub control function is caused to stop the operation of the Doppler sensor. .

  As a result, each control means that executes the sub-control function operates the Doppler sensor in synchronization with the predetermined timing determined by the control means that executes the main control function, so that the operation period of each Doppler sensor overlaps. Thus, the malfunction of the automatic cleaning function can be surely prevented.

  Further, the control means for executing the main control function transfers the authority to execute the main control function to the control means provided in another urinal after executing the main control function for a predetermined period.

  Thereby, it is possible to reduce the amount of information processed by the control means that executes the main control function and the power consumption associated with the processing.

  In other words, the control means that is executing the main control function includes a determination means that determines another control means that next executes the main control function. The control means determined by this determination means is connected to the control means via the communication means. Thus, after transmitting a signal for transferring the authority to execute the main control function at a predetermined timing, the sub control function is executed this time.

  Thereby, since the main control function can be performed in order by the control means provided in the plurality of urinals, the power consumption for each control means can be equalized.

  Further, when detecting an object such as a human body or urine using a Doppler sensor, there is a frequency specific to the radio wave reflected from the object depending on the type of movement of the object to be detected.

  Therefore, according to Shannon's theorem, the sampling frequency during operation of the Doppler sensor needs to be at least twice as high as the frequency of movement specific to the object.

  Generally, the frequency of the reflected wave reflected on the human body is lower than the frequency of the reflected wave reflected on the urine. Therefore, the period of the reflected wave reflected on the urine is shorter than the period of the reflected wave reflected on the human body.

  Therefore, the sampling frequency for detecting urine needs to be higher than the sampling frequency for detecting the human body. However, if sampling is always performed at the higher sampling frequency, both the urine and the human body are detected. Therefore, in this urinal washing system, the human body is also detected by sampling at the sampling frequency used when detecting urine.

  Each control means detects the human body by intermittently operating the Doppler sensor during the first intermittent operation period at a sampling frequency at which the urine can be detected, and then detects the urine with the first sampling frequency at the same sampling frequency. The Doppler sensor is operated for a second intermittent operation period shorter than the intermittent operation period.

  In other words, in this urinal cleaning system, the human body and urine are detected by operating the Doppler sensor at one sampling frequency, so the time for detecting urine can be shorter than the time for detecting the human body. As a result, the intermittent operation period of the Doppler sensor when the control means detects urine is shortened, and the intermittent operation period of the Doppler sensor can be shortened accordingly, thereby improving the detection accuracy of the human body and urine. Can do.

  Hereinafter, first to third embodiments of a urinal washing system according to the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, a case where the urinal cleaning system of the present invention is applied to a toilet provided with the first to third urinal devices having an automatic cleaning function will be described as an example. The number of urinal devices to be provided is not limited to this.

  Further, in the following description, the urinal apparatus in which the control means executes the main control function is described as a master, and the urinal apparatus in which the control means executes the sub control function is described as a slave.

[First embodiment]
In the first embodiment, FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a urinal washing system, FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view showing a urinal apparatus, FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing an automatic washing unit, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a timing chart showing the operation timing of the Doppler sensor when performing urine detection, FIG. 5 is a timing chart showing the operation timing of the Doppler sensor when performing human body detection, and FIG. 6 is an intermittent operation of each urinal device FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 are flowcharts showing processing in the control hand part of the urinal device according to the first embodiment.

[Description of Outline of Urinal Cleaning System in First Embodiment]
As shown in FIG. 1, the urinal washing system 1 according to the first embodiment includes three urinals, a first urinal apparatus A, a second urinal apparatus B, and a third urinal apparatus C provided in the toilet. A toilet device is provided. Hereinafter, the first to third urinal devices A, B, and C are collectively referred to as a urinal device Z.

[Description of urinal device]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, each of the urinal devices Z detects the urinal 2 and the user of each urinal 2 and the urine of the user to And an automatic cleaning unit 3 for automatic cleaning.

  This automatic washing unit 3 is provided inside the urinal 2 (see FIG. 2), the user of the urinal, the Doppler sensor 4 for detecting the user's urine, and the urinal 2 A control unit 6 that functions as a control unit that controls the operation of the Doppler sensor 4 and the valve 5 and performs mutual communication with the other urinal apparatus Z while controlling the operation of the Doppler sensor 4 and the valve 5. And. 2 is a water supply pipe for supplying cleaning water to the urinal 2, and 8 is a drain pipe for discharging the cleaning water from the urinal 2.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the Doppler sensor 4 includes a transmission unit 9 that functions as a transmission unit that transmits a radio wave Sig1 having a predetermined frequency toward the ball unit of the urinal 2, and a reflection of the radio wave Sig1 transmitted from the transmission unit 9. A differential signal that generates a differential signal Sig3 indicating the difference between the frequency of the radio wave Sig1 transmitted from the transmitter 9 and the frequency of the reflected wave Sig2 received by the receiver 10 that functions as a receiver that receives the wave Sig2. And a differential signal generation unit 11 that functions as a generation unit.

  The transmission unit 9, the reception unit 10, and the difference signal generation unit 11 operate based on the control signal Sig4 input from the control unit 6, respectively.

  The valve 5 is an electromagnetic valve that opens and closes based on a control signal Sig4 input from the control unit 6.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 6 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 12, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 13 connected to the CPU 12 via a bus, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 14, and a valve drive unit. 15, a Doppler sensor driving unit 16, and a communication unit 17.

  The CPU 12 is an arithmetic device that controls the operation of the entire automatic cleaning unit 3, and sends a command to each of the valve drive unit 15, the Doppler sensor drive unit 16, and the communication unit 17 via the bus, and the valve drive unit 15, It functions as a control means for performing control to operate the Doppler sensor driving unit 16 and the communication unit 17, respectively.

  That is, this CPU 12 detects a human body and urine based on a differential signal Sig3 input from the Doppler sensor 4 in addition to transmitting a command for operating the Doppler sensor 4 to the Doppler sensor driving unit 16 at a predetermined timing. When it is detected that the user has finished urination based on the detection result, a command for opening the valve 5 is transmitted to the valve drive unit 15, and after a predetermined time, the valve 5 is closed. A command is transmitted to the valve drive unit 15.

  In addition, the CPU 12 transmits a command to the communication unit 17 when performing mutual communication with another urinal device Z.

  The ROM 13 is a storage area that stores an operation program of the CPU 12, operation timing information described later, and the like.

  The RAM 14 functions as a work area in which an operation program is read from the ROM 13 to perform work when the CPU 12 performs a process, and also functions as a storage area for temporarily storing various setting values used for the process.

  The valve drive unit 15 is a circuit that operates according to a command transmitted from the CPU 12 via the bus, generates a control signal that instructs opening or closing of the valve 5, and inputs the control signal to the valve 5.

  The Doppler sensor driving unit 16 operates according to a command transmitted from the CPU 12 via the bus, and inputs the control signal Sig4 to the transmission unit 9, the reception unit 10, and the difference signal generation unit 11 provided in the Doppler sensor 4, This is a circuit that transmits a differential signal Sig3 input from the differential signal generation unit 11 to the CPU 12.

  The communication unit 17 operates in accordance with a command transmitted from the CPU 12 via the bus, transmits predetermined information to another urinal device Z, and receives predetermined information from the other urinal device Z. It is.

  In addition, this communication unit 17 uses the same type of technology as Bluetooth, but the communication distance is shorter than Bluetooth, but the power consumption is much smaller than Bluetooth, and it can communicate with up to 255 devices on one network. For this reason, wireless communication is performed using a short-range wireless communication standard called Zigbee.

  When the urinal device Z provided with the communication unit 17 is a master, the operation timing information specifying the operation timing of the Doppler sensor 4 included in the slave is transmitted to another urinal device Z that is a slave. Then, a reply to be described later is received from another urinal device Z that is a slave.

  On the other hand, when the urinal device Z provided with the communication unit 17 is a slave, the operation timing information is received from the other urinal device Z as a master, and the operation timing information is transmitted to the urinal device Z as a master. Send a reply to indicate that you received.

  In the urinal device Z configured as described above, when detecting urine, the radio wave Sig1 is transmitted from the transmission unit 9 of the Doppler sensor 4 at the transmission timing illustrated in FIG. 4, and the difference signal generation unit is illustrated at the capture timing illustrated in FIG. 11 captures (samples) the radio wave Sig1 and the reflected wave Sig2.

  In general, the frequency of the reflected wave Sig2 reflected from the urine by the radio wave Sig1 transmitted from the transmitter 9 takes a value in the vicinity of 180 Hz shown in FIG. 4, and therefore the period is approximately 5.5 ms.

  Therefore, in the urinal apparatus Z, based on Shannon's theorem, the differential signal generation unit 11 captures the radio wave Sig1 and the reflected wave Sig2 at a sampling period of 2 ms that is twice or more the period of the reflected wave Sig2.

  Further, in this urinal device Z, when detecting a human body, the radio wave Sig1 is transmitted from the transmission unit 9 of the Doppler sensor 4 at the transmission timing shown in FIG. 5, and the difference signal generation unit 11 is transmitted at the capture timing shown in FIG. The radio wave Sig1 and the reflected wave Sig2 are taken in (sampled).

  In general, the frequency of the reflected wave Sig2 reflected from the human body by the radio wave Sig1 transmitted from the transmitter 9 takes a value in the vicinity of 20 Hz shown in FIG. 5, and therefore the period is approximately 50 ms.

  Therefore, in this urinal device Z, the difference signal generation unit 11 generates the radio wave Sig1 and the reflected wave Sig2 at a sampling period of 2 ms which is the same as the sampling frequency used when detecting urine, which is twice or more of the period of 50 ms. I try to capture it.

[Explanation of operation timing of each urinal device]
Further, in this urinal washing system 1, the control unit 6 provided in each urinal device Z functions as a communication means, performs wireless communication with other urinal devices Z, and each urinal The Doppler sensors 4 provided in the device Z are intermittently operated so that their operation periods do not overlap each other.

  That is, in the urinal washing system 1 of the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, after the radio wave Sig1 is transmitted for a period of 100 ms from the transmitter 9 of the Doppler sensor 4 provided in the first urinal apparatus A, the radio wave Sig1 The transmission is stopped, and then the transmission of the radio wave Sig1 is stopped after transmitting the radio wave Sig1 for a period of 100 ms from the transmission unit 9 of the Doppler sensor 4 included in the second urinal apparatus B, and then the third urinal apparatus C The transmission unit 9 of the Doppler sensor 4 provided is configured to stop the transmission of the radio wave Sig1 after transmitting the radio wave Sig1 for a period of 100 ms.

  At this time, the differential signal generation unit 11 transmits at the capture timing shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 only during the period in which the transmission unit 9 of the Doppler sensor 4 provided with the differential signal generation unit 11 is transmitting the radio wave Sig1. The radio wave Sig1 transmitted by the unit 9 and the reflected wave Sig2 received by the receiving unit 10 are captured, and the radio wave Sig1 and the reflected wave Sig2 are not captured during other periods.

  In this way, by intermittently operating the Doppler sensors 4 of each urinal apparatus Z so that their operation periods do not overlap each other, a plurality of Doppler sensors 4 simultaneously transmit radio waves Sig1 and receive reflected waves Sig2. Since it is not performed, the radio wave Sig1 and the reflected wave Sig2 do not interfere with each other, and the automatic cleaning function can be prevented from malfunctioning.

  Further, in the urinal washing system 1, one urinal device Z among the plurality of urinal devices Z functions as a master, and the other urinal devices Z function as slaves.

  Then, the control unit 6 of the master urinal device Z executes the main control function, and the operation timing information for designating the operation timing of the Doppler sensor 4 provided in the slave urinal device Z to the slave urinal device Z Is transmitted at a predetermined timing.

  The operation timing information includes an operation permission signal Sig5 that allows the slave urinal device Z to start operation of the Doppler sensor 4, and an operation prohibition signal Sig6 that prohibits the slave urinal device Z from operating the Doppler sensor 4. is there.

  In the slave urinal apparatus Z, each time the operation timing information is received, the control unit 6 executes the sub control function so that the Doppler sensor 4 is intermittently operated based on the received operation timing information. .

  Further, the slave urinal device Z sends two types of replies, the first reply Sig8 and the second reply Sig9, which indicate that the operation timing information has been received according to the type of the received operation timing information, to the master urinal device Send to Z.

  Thus, in the urinal washing system 1 of the present embodiment, since the control unit 6 of the master urinal device Z manages the operation of the Doppler sensor 4 of the slave urinal device Z, each Doppler sensor The operations of 4 can be synchronized with each other, and it is possible to reliably prevent the operation periods of the Doppler sensors 4 from overlapping.

  In addition, the control unit 6 included in the master urinal device Z performs a process of transferring the authority as the master to one of the plurality of slave urinal devices Z after executing the main control function for a predetermined time. After that, it functions as a slave and executes a slave control function.

  On the other hand, the slave urinal apparatus Z to which the authority as the master has been transferred functions as the master and executes the main control function for a predetermined time, and then, further transfers the authority as the master to the other urinal apparatus Z of the slave. Like to do.

[Description of processing in the control unit]
Here, the process performed by the CPU 12 in the control unit 6 that controls the operation of the urinal device Z as described above will be described. Here, the process performed by the control unit 6 of the first urinal apparatus A will be described as an example, but the second urinal apparatus B and the third urinal apparatus C also perform the same process, so the description Is omitted.

[Determination of master and slave]
When the power is turned on, the CPU 12 first determines whether or not it is a master by referring to the RAM 14 as shown in FIG. 7 (step S1).

  At this time, the CPU 12 refers to the value indicating the master information stored in the specific area in the RAM 14, and when the value is 1, the CPU 12 determines that it is the master and moves the process to step S2. Function to perform the main control function.

  On the other hand, in step S1, when the value indicating the master information is 0, the CPU 12 determines that the CPU 12 is not a master but a slave, moves the process to step S34 shown in FIG. 8, and functions as a slave. Perform the function.

[Master control]
In step S2, the CPU 12 performs a process for starting the master timer in the RAM 14, and then moves the process to step S3. This master timer is a timer for counting the time during which the master timer functions as a master.

  In step S3, the CPU 12 refers to the master timer to determine whether 30 minutes have elapsed since the start of the master timer. If it is determined that 30 minutes have not elapsed, the process proceeds to step S4. If it is determined that 30 minutes have elapsed, the process proceeds to step S10.

  In step S4, the CPU 12 performs a process of setting the variable I stored in a predetermined area in the RAM 14 to 1, and then moves the process to step S5. The variable I set here is a number assigned to each urinal device Z. When the value of this variable becomes a specific value assigned to itself (here, 1), the CPU 12 itself Is determined to be the order in which the Doppler sensor 4 is operated.

  That is, in the urinal washing system 1 of the present embodiment, the first urinal device A, the second urinal device B, and the third urinal device C are provided as the first urinal device Z. The value corresponding to the device A is 1, the value corresponding to the second urinal device B is 2, and the value corresponding to the third urinal device C is 3. When N urinal apparatuses Z are provided, the variable I is set to 1 to N, and values corresponding to the respective urinal apparatuses Z are distributed.

  In step S5, the CPU 12 performs a process of starting after resetting the operation timer in the RAM 14, and then moves the process to step S6. This operation timer is a timer for counting a time of 100 ms during which the Doppler sensor 4 is intermittently operated.

  In step S6, the CPU 12 refers to the RAM 14 and determines whether or not the value of the variable I is 1.

  Here, when the CPU 12 determines that the variable I is 1, the CPU 12 determines that it is the order in which the Doppler sensor 4 is operated, moves the process to step S7, and determines that the variable I is not 1, It is determined that it is not the order in which the Doppler sensor 4 is operated, and the process proceeds to step S14.

  In step S7, the CPU 12 performs radio wave transmission / reception processing, and then moves the processing to step S20.

  In this radio wave transmission / reception process, the CPU 12 reads a program for operating the Doppler sensor 4 from the ROM 13, performs predetermined processing in the RAM 14 as a work area, and operates the Doppler sensor 4 to the Doppler sensor driving unit 16 via the bus. Send commands for

  Receiving this command, the Doppler sensor driving unit 16 outputs the control signal Sig4 to the transmission unit 9, the reception unit 10, and the difference signal generation unit 11, thereby transmitting the radio wave Sig1 to the transmission unit 9 at the timing shown in FIGS. And the reception unit 10 receives the reflected wave Sig2, and the differential signal generation unit 11 captures the radio wave Sig1 and the reflected wave Sig2.

  Then, the difference signal generation unit 11 generates a difference signal Sig3 indicating a difference between the frequency of the radio wave Sig1 and the frequency of the reflected wave Sig2, and outputs the difference signal Sig3 to the Doppler sensor driving unit 16.

  The Doppler sensor drive unit 16 transmits the difference signal Sig3 input from the difference signal generation unit 11 to the CPU 12 via the bus, and the CPU 12 detects a human body and urine based on the received difference signal Sig3.

  When the CPU 12 determines that the user's urination has ended according to the detection result of the human body or urine, the CPU 12 transmits a command for opening the valve 5 to the valve driving unit 15 to open the valve 5, and the urinal Start washing 2

  Then, the CPU 12 transmits a command for closing the valve 5 to 15 after a predetermined time (for example, 5 seconds), closes the valve 5, and finishes the cleaning of the urinal 2.

  In step S20, the CPU 12 refers to the RAM 14 to determine whether 100 ms has elapsed since the start of the operation timer. When it is determined that 100 ms has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S8, and 100 ms has elapsed. If it is determined that there is not, step S20 is repeated until 100 ms elapses.

  In step S8, the CPU 12 refers to the RAM 14, performs a process of adding 1 to the variable I, and then moves the process to step S9.

  In step S9, the CPU 12 refers to the RAM 14 and determines whether or not the variable I is larger than 3 (N when N urinal devices Z are provided).

  If the CPU 12 determines that the variable I is greater than 3, the process proceeds to step S3. If the CPU 12 determines that the variable I is 3 or less, the process returns to step S5.

  When determining that the value of the variable I is not 1 in step S6, the CPU 12 sends the Doppler sensor 4 as operation timing information to the slave urinal device Z (second urinal device B or third urinal device C). A process of transmitting an operation permission signal Sig5 that permits the start of the operation is performed (step S14), and then the process proceeds to step S15.

  In step S14, the CPU 12 reads a program for operating the communication unit 17 from the ROM 13, performs predetermined processing in the RAM 14 as a work area, and transmits an operation permission signal Sig5 to the communication unit 17 via the bus. Send a command.

  Then, the communication unit 17 that has received the command transmits an operation permission signal Sig5 to the slave urinal apparatus Z.

  In step S15, the CPU 12 determines whether or not the first reply Sig8 indicating that the operation permission signal Sig5 has been received from the slave urinal device Z has been received. If it is determined that the first reply Sig8 has been received, the process proceeds to step S16. If it is determined that it has not been received, the process proceeds to step S21.

  In step S16, the CPU 12 refers to the RAM 14 to determine whether 90 ms has elapsed since the start of the operation timer. If it is determined that 90 ms has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S18, and 90 ms has elapsed. If it is determined that it is not, the process proceeds to step S17.

  In step S17, the CPU 12 determines whether or not an operation end signal Sig11, which will be described later, has been received from the slave urinal device Z. If it is determined that it has not been received, the process returns to S16 and determines that it has been received. If so, the process moves to step S18.

  In step S18, the CPU 12 performs a process of transmitting an operation prohibition signal Sig6 for prohibiting the operation of the Doppler sensor 4 to the slave urinal device Z as timing information, and then moves the process to step S19.

  In step S18, the CPU 12 reads a program for operating the communication unit 17 from the ROM 13, performs predetermined processing in the RAM 14 as a work area, and transmits an operation prohibition signal Sig6 to the communication unit 17 via the bus. Send a command.

  Then, the communication unit 17 that has received the command transmits an operation inhibition signal Sig6 to the slave urinal device Z.

  In step S19, the CPU 12 determines whether or not the second reply Sig9 indicating that the operation prohibition signal Sig6 has been received from the slave urinal device Z has been received. If it is determined that the second reply Sig9 has been received, the process proceeds to step S20. If it is determined that it has not been received, the process proceeds to step S23.

  If it is determined in step S15 that the first reply Sig8 has not been received from the slave urinal device Z, the CPU 12 refers to the RAM 14 to determine whether 10 ms has elapsed since the operation timer was started. A determination is made (step S21). If it is determined that 10 ms has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S22. If it is determined that 10 ms has not elapsed, the process returns to step S14.

  In step S22, the CPU 12 determines that the slave urinal apparatus Z, which is the transmission destination of the operation permission signal Sig5, cannot communicate, and sets not to perform communication from the next time, and then moves the process to step S20.

  If it is determined in step S19 that the second reply Sig9 has not been received from the slave urinal device Z, the CPU 12 refers to the RAM 14 to determine whether 100 ms has elapsed since the operation timer was started. If it is determined that 100 ms has elapsed (YES in step S23), the process proceeds to step S24. If it is determined that 100 ms has not elapsed, the process returns to step S18.

  In step S24, the CPU 12 determines that the slave urinal device Z, which is the transmission destination of the operation prohibition signal Sig6, cannot communicate, and sets not to communicate from the next time, and then moves the process to step S8.

  In addition, when it is determined in step S3 that 30 minutes have elapsed since the master timer was started, the CPU 12 refers to a predetermined area in the ROM 13 and determines the slave to transfer the authority as a predetermined master. The toilet device Z is determined, a master transfer signal Sig7 is transmitted to the urinal device Z (step S10), and then the process proceeds to step S11.

  In this way, the CPU 12 also functions as a determination unit that determines other control units that next execute the main control function.

  In this step S10, the CPU 12 first changes the value stored in a specific area of the RAM 14 included in the CPU 12 from 1 to 0, and reads a program for operating the communication unit 17 from the ROM 13, and uses the RAM 14 as a work area. A predetermined process is performed, and a command for transmitting the master transfer signal Sig7 is transmitted to the communication unit 17 via the bus.

  Then, the communication unit 17 that has received the command transmits a master transfer signal Sig7 to the slave urinal device Z to which the authority as the master is transferred.

  The master transfer signal Sig7 transmitted at this time is a signal for causing the CPU 12 of the urinal apparatus Z to transfer the authority as the master to set the value indicating the master information stored in the specific area of the RAM 14 to 1.

  In step S11, the CPU 12 determines whether or not a third reply Sig10 indicating that the master transfer signal Sig7 has been received from the urinal apparatus Z that has transmitted the master transfer signal Sig7 has been received, The process proceeds to step S12, and when it is determined that the process has not been received, the process proceeds to step S13.

  In step S12, the CPU 12 performs a process of resetting the master timer, and then moves the process to step S34 shown in FIG.

  In step S13, the CPU 12 determines that communication with the urinal apparatus Z that has transmitted the master transfer signal Sig7 is impossible, and performs processing to change the transmission destination of the master transfer signal Sig7. Return to step S10.

[Slave control]
If it is determined in step S1 that it is not the master, it functions as a slave and executes the slave control function.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 8, the CPU 12 determines whether or not the master transfer signal Sig7 is received from the master urinal device Z (step S34), and if it is determined that the master transfer signal Sig7 is received, the process proceeds to step S35. If it is determined that it has not been received, the process proceeds to step S25.

  In step S35, the CPU 12 performs a process of transmitting a third reply Sig10 indicating that the master transfer signal Sig7 has been received to the urinal apparatus Z that has transmitted the master transfer signal Sig7, and then the process is performed in step S2 shown in FIG. To function as the master and execute the main control function.

  In this step S35, the CPU 12 reads a program for operating the communication unit 17 from the ROM 13, performs predetermined processing in the RAM 14, which is a work area, and transmits a third reply Sig10 to the communication unit 17 via the bus. Send a command.

  And the communication part 17 which received the command transmits 3rd reply Sig10 to the urinal apparatus Z which has transmitted master transfer signal Sig7.

  In step S25, the CPU 12 determines whether or not the operation permission signal Sig5 has been received (step S25). If it is determined that the operation permission signal Sig5 has been received, the process proceeds to step S26. Then, the process returns to step S34.

  In step S26, the CPU 12 performs a process of starting after resetting the operation timer, and then moves the process to step S27.

  In step S27, the CPU 12 performs a process of transmitting a first reply Sig8 indicating that the operation permission signal Sig5 has been received to the master urinal device Z, and then the process proceeds to step S28.

  In this step S27, the CPU 12 reads a program for operating the communication unit 17 from the ROM 13, performs predetermined processing in the RAM 14, which is a work area, and transmits a first reply Sig8 to the communication unit 17 via the bus. Send a command.

  Then, the communication unit 17 that has received the command transmits a first reply Sig8 to the master urinal device Z.

  In step S28, the CPU 12 performs radio wave transmission / reception start processing, and then proceeds to step S29.

  In step S29, the CPU 12 determines whether or not the operation prohibition signal Sig6 has been received from the master urinal device Z. If it is determined that the operation is prohibited, the process proceeds to step S36. The process is moved to step S30.

  In step S30, the CPU 12 determines whether or not the detection of the human body or urine has already been completed by the process performed in step S28, and has already ended the radio wave transmission / reception process. The process proceeds to step S31, and when it is determined that the process has not ended, the process returns to step S29.

  In step S31, the CPU 12 performs a process of transmitting an operation end signal Sig11 indicating that the operation of the Doppler sensor 4 has been terminated to the master urinal device Z, and then the process proceeds to step S32.

  In this step S31, the CPU 12 reads a program for operating the communication unit 17 from the ROM 13, performs predetermined processing in the RAM 14 as a work area, and transmits an operation end signal Sig11 to the communication unit 17 via the bus. Send a command.

  Then, the communication unit 17 that has received the command transmits an operation end signal Sig11 to the master urinal device Z.

  In step S32, the CPU 12 determines whether or not the operation prohibition signal Sig6 has been received from the master urinal device Z. When determining that the operation prohibition signal Sig6 has been received, the CPU 12 proceeds to step S33 and determines that it has not been received. Then, the process proceeds to step S38.

  In step S33, the CPU 12 performs a process of transmitting a second reply Sig9 indicating that the operation prohibition signal Sig6 has been received to the master urinal device Z, and then returns the process to step S34.

  In this step S33, the CPU 12 reads a program for operating the communication unit 17 from the ROM 13, performs predetermined processing in the RAM 14, which is a work area, and transmits a second reply Sig9 to the communication unit 17 via the bus. Send a command.

  And the communication part 17 which received the command transmits 2nd reply Sig9 to the urinal apparatus Z of a master.

  If it is determined in step S32 that the operation inhibition signal Sig6 has not been received, the CPU 12 refers to the RAM 14 to determine whether 90 ms has elapsed since the operation timer was started (step S38). If it is determined that 90 ms has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S39. If it is determined that 90 ms has not elapsed, the process returns to step S31.

  In step S39, since the master urinal device Z has not reacted, the CPU 12 performs processing for discarding the current processing data from the RAM 14, and then returns the processing to step S34.

  When determining that the operation prohibition signal Sig6 has been received in step S29, the CPU 12 ends the radio wave transmission / reception process by the Doppler sensor 4 (step S36), and then sends a second reply Sig9 to the master urinal device Z. The transmission process is performed (step S37), and the process returns to step S34.

[Second Embodiment]
The urinal washing system 1 according to the second embodiment has the same configuration as the urinal washing system 1 according to the first embodiment, and each urinal apparatus Z has the same configuration as each urinal apparatus Z of the first embodiment. Since only the content of control by each control unit 6 is different, here, the same reference numerals and the same terms as the reference numerals attached to the urinal washing system 1 and the urinal device Z shown in FIGS. It will be explained using.

  Here, FIG. 9 is a timing chart showing the communication timing between the control units 6 and the operation timing of each Doppler sensor 4 in the second embodiment, and FIGS. 10 to 13 show the urinal apparatus Z in the second embodiment. 5 is a flowchart showing processing performed by the control unit 6 of FIG.

[Description of Outline of Urinal Cleaning System in Second Embodiment]
In the urinal washing system 1 according to the second embodiment, the control units 6 of the urinal devices Z communicate with each other by performing communication with each other in the same manner as in the first embodiment. Control is performed so as to intermittently operate so as not to overlap.

  Similarly to the first embodiment, one of the three urinal apparatuses Z of the first urinal apparatus A, the second urinal apparatus B, and the third urinal apparatus C is used as a master urinal apparatus Z. The other urinal device Z is a slave urinal device Z, the control unit 6 of the master urinal device Z transmits operation timing information to the slave urinal device Z, and the control unit of the slave urinal device Z 6 is configured to intermittently operate the Doppler sensor 4 every time this operation timing information is received.

  Also, the control unit 6 of the master urinal device Z functions as a master for a predetermined time to execute the main control function, and then the authority as the master is transferred to the slave urinal device Z as in the first embodiment. It is the same.

  However, in the urinal washing system 1 of the second embodiment, the content of the operation timing information transmitted from the master urinal device Z to the slave urinal device Z is different from the urinal washing system 1 of the first embodiment.

  That is, in the urinal washing system 1 of the first embodiment, the radio wave Sig1 is transmitted from the Doppler sensor 4 provided in one urinal device Z for a predetermined period (100 ms), and the radio wave Sig1 is transmitted within the predetermined period. By causing the Doppler sensor 4 to sample the reflected wave Sig2 multiple times and prohibiting the operation of the Doppler sensor 4 provided in the other urinal device Z during that time, the operation period of each Doppler sensor 4 does not overlap each other In the second embodiment, each control unit 6 controls the operation of the Doppler sensor 4, while in the second embodiment, the Doppler sensor 4 provided in one urinal device Z performs the sampling of the reflected wave Sig2 once. Only the transmission of the radio wave Sig1 and the reception of the reflected wave Sig2, and the Doppler sensor 4 provided in the other urinal device Z in the period (2ms) until this Doppler sensor 4 performs the next sampling By sampling the reflected wave Sig2 once each, the Doppler sensors 4 are operated intermittently so that the operation periods of the Doppler sensors 4 do not overlap each other.

[Explanation of operation timing of each urinal device]
Here, the first urinal device A will be described as the master urinal device Z, and the second urinal device B and the third urinal device C will be described as the slave urinal device Z.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the control unit 6 of the first urinal apparatus A first performs a process of sampling the reflected wave Sig2 once by simultaneously operating the transmitting unit 9 and the receiving unit 10 of the Doppler sensor 4 included in itself. After that, communication is performed with the control unit 6 of the second urinal apparatus B.

  Then, the control unit 6 of the first urinal device A transmits the operation permission signal Sig5 and the operation prohibition signal to the control unit 6 of the second urinal device B within the communication period with the control unit 6 of the second urinal device B. Sig6 and send sequentially.

  The control unit 6 of the second urinal apparatus B samples the reflected wave Sig2 of the radio wave Sig1 transmitted by itself by operating the Doppler sensor 4 every time the operation permission signal Sig5 and the operation prohibition signal Sig6 are received. .

  Next, the control unit 6 of the first urinal device A communicates with the control unit 6 of the third urinal device C, and the operation is permitted to the control unit 6 of the third urinal device C within this communication period. The signal Sig5 and the operation prohibition signal Sig6 are sequentially transmitted.

  The control unit 6 of the third urinal apparatus C operates the Doppler sensor 4 every time the operation permission signal Sig5 and the operation prohibition signal Sig6 are received, and samples the reflected wave Sig2 of the radio wave Sig1 transmitted by itself once. .

  Subsequently, the control unit 6 of the first urinal apparatus A operates its own Doppler sensor 4 to perform the next sampling, repeats this control for a predetermined period (for example, 30 minutes), and thereafter, the authority as the master is previously set. A process of transferring to a defined slave urinal device Z (for example, the second urinal device B) is performed.

  In this way, by intermittently operating the transmitting unit 9 and the receiving unit 10 of each Doppler sensor 4 so that their operation periods do not overlap each other, the operation cycle of the Doppler sensor 4 provided in each urinal device Z can be shortened. Therefore, the human body and urine can be detected with higher accuracy.

[Description of processing in the control unit]
Thus, when performing operation control of each Doppler sensor 4, the control unit 6 of the master urinal device Z performs processing according to the flowcharts of FIGS. 10 to 12, and the control unit 6 of the slave urinal device Z The processing is performed according to the flowchart of FIG.

[Determination of master and slave]
That is, when the power is turned on, the CPU 12 of the first urinal apparatus A functioning as a master first determines whether or not it is a master by referring to the RAM 14, as shown in FIG. S40).

  At this time, the CPU 12 refers to the value indicating the master information stored in the specific area in the RAM 14, and when the value is 1, the CPU 12 determines that it is the master and moves the process to step S41. Function to perform the main control function.

  Here, if the value indicating the master information is 0, the CPU 12 shifts the processing to step S75 shown in FIG. 13 to function as a slave and execute the slave control function.

[Master control]
In step S41, the CPU 12 performs a process of starting the master timer in the RAM 14, and then moves the process to step S42.

  In step S42, the CPU 12 determines whether or not 30 minutes have elapsed since the start of the master timer. If it is determined that 30 minutes have elapsed, the process proceeds to step S52, and if 30 minutes have not elapsed, If so, the process moves to step S43.

  In step S43, the CPU 12 performs later-described A control shown in FIG. 11, and then sequentially performs later-described B control (step S44) and C control (step S45) shown in FIG. Move to.

  In step S46, the CPU 12 refers to the B error value indicating the number of communication failures with the second urinal apparatus B stored in the predetermined area in the RAM 14, and determines whether or not the B error value is 5. Do.

  When the CPU 12 determines that the value of the B error is 5, the CPU 12 stores the information in a predetermined area of the RAM 14 as the second urinal apparatus B is in failure (step S47). Settings are made so that communication with the urinal apparatus B is not performed, and then the process proceeds to step S49.

  On the other hand, if the CPU 12 determines that the value of the B error is not 5, the CPU 10 stores the information in a predetermined area of the RAM 14 assuming that the second urinal apparatus B is normal (step S48), and thereafter, the process proceeds to step S49. Move to.

  In step S49, the CPU 12 refers to the C error value indicating the number of communication failures with the third urinal apparatus C stored in the predetermined area in the RAM 14, and determines whether or not the C error value is 5. Do.

  Here, when the CPU 12 determines that the value of the C error is 5, it is determined that the third urinal device C is out of order and stores the information in a predetermined area of the RAM 14, and thereafter the third urinal device C (Step S50), and then the process returns to step S42.

  On the other hand, if the CPU 12 determines that the value of the C error is not 5, the CPU 13 stores the information in the predetermined area of the RAM 14 as normal, assuming that the third urinal device C is normal (step S51), and thereafter, the process proceeds to step S42. Return to.

  Further, when it is determined in step S42 that 30 minutes have elapsed since the start of the master timer, the CPU 12 refers to a predetermined area of the ROM 13 and transfers the authority as the slave to the slave urinal device Z (second small device). The toilet device B or the third urinal device C) is determined, and the master transfer signal Sig7 is transmitted to the determined urinal device Z (step S52), and then the process proceeds to step S53.

  In step S53, the CPU 12 determines whether or not a third reply Sig10 indicating that the master transfer signal Sig7 has been received is received from the urinal device Z that has transmitted the master transfer signal Sig7. The process proceeds to step S54, and when it is determined that the process has not been received, the process proceeds to step S55.

  In step S54, the CPU 12 performs a process of resetting the master timer, and then moves the process to step S75 shown in FIG.

  Further, in step S55, the CPU 12 performs processing for changing the transmission destination of the master transfer signal Sig7 on the assumption that communication with the urinal apparatus Z that has transmitted the master transfer signal Sig7 is impossible, and then the processing proceeds to step S52. return.

  Further, the CPU 12 of the first urinal apparatus A performs A control according to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  That is, when CPU 12 determines that 30 minutes have not elapsed since the start of the master timer in step S42, CPU 12 operates Doppler sensor 4 to transmit radio wave Sig1 for the time required for one sampling. Then, radio wave transmission / reception processing for receiving the reflected wave Sig2 is performed (step S56), and then the process returns to step S44 shown in FIG. 10 to perform B control.

  The CPU 12 of the first urinal apparatus A performs B control according to the flowchart shown in FIG. That is, the CPU 12 first refers to the information stored in the predetermined area of the RAM 14 and determines whether or not the second urinal apparatus B is out of order (step S57).

  Here, when the CPU 12 determines that the second urinal apparatus B is out of order, the CPU 12 ends the B control and returns the process to step S45 shown in FIG.

  On the other hand, when the CPU 12 determines that the second urinal apparatus B is normal, the CPU 12 transmits an operation permission signal Sig5 to the second urinal apparatus B as operation timing information for permitting the start of the operation of the Doppler sensor 4 (Step S12). Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S59.

  In step S59, the CPU 12 performs a process for starting an operation timer, and then moves the process to step S60.

  In step S60, the CPU 12 determines whether or not the first reply Sig8 indicating that the operation permission signal Sig5 has been received from the second urinal apparatus B has been received. If it is determined that the first reply Sig8 has been received, the process proceeds to step S61. If it is determined that it has not been received, the process proceeds to step S65.

  In step S61, the CPU 12 determines whether 0.5 ms has elapsed since the start of the operation timer. If it is determined that 0.5 ms has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S62, and 0.5 ms has not elapsed. If it is determined, the process of step S61 is repeated until 0.5 ms elapses.

  In step S62, the CPU 12 performs a process of transmitting an operation prohibition signal Sig6 as operation timing information for prohibiting the operation of the Doppler sensor 4 to the second urinal apparatus B, and then the process proceeds to step S63.

  In step S63, the CPU 12 determines whether or not the second reply Sig9 indicating that the operation prohibition signal Sig6 has been received from the second urinal apparatus B has been received. If it is determined that the second reply Sig9 has been received, the process proceeds to step S64. If it is determined that it has not been received, the process proceeds to step S67.

  In step S64, the CPU 12 performs a reset process for setting the value of the B error stored in the predetermined area of the RAM 14 to 0, and then moves the process to step S45 shown in FIG. 10 to perform C control.

  If it is determined in step S60 that the first reply Sig8 has not been received from the second urinal device B, the CPU 12 determines whether 0.3 ms has elapsed since the operation timer was started (step S60). S65).

  Here, the CPU 12 returns the process to step S60 when determining that 0.3 ms has not elapsed, and moves the process to step S66 when determining that 0.3 ms has elapsed.

  In step S66, the CPU 12 performs a process of adding 1 to the value of the B error stored in the predetermined area of the RAM 14, and then shifts the process to step S45 shown in FIG. 10 to perform the C control.

  If it is determined in step S63 that the second reply Sig9 has not been received from the second urinal apparatus B, the CPU 12 determines whether or not 0.8 ms has elapsed since the operation timer was started (step S63). S67).

  Here, the CPU 12 returns the process to step S63 when determining that 0.8 ms has not elapsed, and moves the process to step S68 when determining that 0.8 ms has elapsed.

  In step S68, the CPU 12 performs a process of adding 1 to the value of the B error stored in the predetermined area of the RAM 14, and then moves the process to step S45 shown in FIG. 10 to perform the C control.

  Further, when performing the C control, the CPU 12 performs the same process as the B control shown in FIG.

  That is, after performing the B control, the CPU 12 of the first urinal device A sequentially transmits the operation permission signal Sig5 and the operation prohibition signal Sig6 to the third urinal device C at a predetermined timing to perform the third urinal device C. The Doppler sensor 4 of the toilet device C is intermittently operated.

  Further, the CPU 12 of the first urinal apparatus A performs a process of resetting the value of the C error when receiving the first reply Sig8 and the second reply Sig9 from the third urinal apparatus C within a predetermined time, When the reply Sig8 or the second reply Sig9 is not received, a process of adding 1 to the C error value is performed, and the C control is terminated.

[Slave control]
Here, the process performed by the CPU 12 of the second urinal apparatus B functioning as a slave will be described, and the CPU 12 of the third urinal apparatus C performs the same process as the CPU 12 of the second urinal apparatus B. Description is omitted.

  Further, after the CPU 12 of the first urinal apparatus A functioning as a master for a predetermined period also functions as the master for a predetermined period and transfers the authority as the master to another urinal apparatus Z, the CPU 12 of the second urinal apparatus B The same processing is performed.

  When the power is turned on, the CPU 12 of the second urinal device B functioning as a slave first receives the master transfer signal Sig7 from the first urinal device A, which is the master urinal device Z, as shown in FIG. If it is determined that it has been received, the process proceeds to step S76. If it is determined that it has not been received, the process proceeds to step S69.

  Further, in step S76, the CPU 12 performs a process of transmitting a third reply Sig10 indicating that the master transfer signal Sig7 has been received to the first urinal apparatus A, and then moves the process to step S41 shown in FIG. To perform the main control function.

  In step S69, the CPU 12 determines whether or not the operation permission signal Sig5 has been received. If it is determined that the operation permission signal Sig5 has been received, the process proceeds to step S70. If it is determined that it has not been received, the process proceeds to step S75. return.

  In step S70, the CPU 12 performs a process of starting after resetting the operation timer, and then moves the process to step S71.

  In step S71, the CPU 12 performs a process of transmitting a first reply Sig8 indicating that the operation permission signal Sig5 has been received to the first urinal apparatus A, and then moves the process to step S72.

  In this step S72, the CPU 12 operates the Doppler sensor 4 to perform radio wave transmission / reception processing for transmitting the time radio wave Sig1 and receiving the reflected wave Sig2 necessary for performing one sampling, and then the processing is performed in step S73. Move to.

  In step S73, the CPU 12 determines whether or not the operation prohibition signal Sig6 has been received from the first urinal device A. If it is determined that the operation prohibition signal Sig6 has been received, the process proceeds to step S74. Then, the process proceeds to step S77.

  In step S74, the CPU 12 performs a process of transmitting a second reply Sig9 indicating that the operation prohibition signal Sig6 has been received to the first urinal apparatus A, and then returns the process to step S75.

  If it is determined in step S73 that the operation prohibition signal Sig6 has not been received, the CPU 12 determines whether 0.5 ms has elapsed since the start of the operation timer, and determines that 0.5 ms has elapsed. If so, the process returns to step S75, and if it is determined that 0.5 ms has not elapsed, the process returns to step S73.

[Third embodiment]
In the urinal washing system 1 according to the third embodiment described below, the configuration is the same as the urinal washing system 1 according to the first and second embodiments, and each urinal device Z also has the configuration of the first and second Since it is the same as each urinal apparatus Z of the urinal washing system 1 of the second embodiment and only the content of control by each control unit 6 is different, the urinal washing system 1 and the urinal apparatus Z shown in FIGS. The description will be made using the same reference numerals and the same terms as the reference numerals attached to.

[Description of Outline of Urinal Cleaning System in Third Embodiment]
In the urinal washing system 1 according to the third embodiment, the control units 6 of each urinal device Z communicate with each other to communicate each Doppler sensor 4, as in the first and second embodiments. Control is performed such that the operation periods are intermittently operated so as not to overlap each other.

  Also, one of the three urinal devices Z of the first urinal device A, the second urinal device B, and the third urinal device C is the master urinal device Z, and the other urinal devices Z are As the slave urinal device Z, the control unit 6 of the master urinal device Z transmits operation timing information to the slave urinal device Z, and the control unit 6 of the slave urinal device Z receives the received operation timing information. Based on the above, the Doppler sensor 4 is operated intermittently.

  The control unit 6 of the master urinal device Z functions as a master for a predetermined time to execute the main control function, and thereafter, the authority as the master is transferred to the slave urinal device Z. This is the same as the embodiment.

  However, in the urinal washing system 1 of the first and second embodiments, the control unit 6 of the slave urinal device Z receives the Doppler sensor 4 only when the operation permission signal Sig5 is received from the master urinal device Z. In contrast to the control to be operated, in the urinal washing system 1 of the third embodiment, the control unit 6 of the slave urinal device Z is transmitted from the master urinal device Z at predetermined time intervals. The timing for operating the Doppler sensor 4 by itself is determined based on the operation timing information.

  Therefore, the number of communications between the master urinal device Z and the slave urinal device Z can be reduced, and the power consumption of the urinal washing system 1 as a whole can be reduced.

  In the third embodiment, the Doppler sensor 4 provided in each urinal device Z includes the control content of the master urinal device Z and the operation timing information transmitted from the master urinal device Z to the slave urinal device Z. 6 can be operated at either one of the intermittent operation timing shown in FIG. 6 or the intermittent operation timing shown in FIG. 9, and the description thereof is omitted here.

[Description of processing in the control unit]
Here, the process performed by the CPU 12 of the control unit 6 included in the first urinal apparatus A will be described, and the CPU 12 of the other urinal apparatus Z performs the same process, and thus the description thereof will be omitted.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing processing performed by the CPU 12 when the control unit 6 of the first urinal device A functions as a master. At this time, each control of the second urinal device B and the third urinal device C Part 6 functions as a slave.

  FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing processing performed by the CPU 12 when the control unit 6 of the first urinal device A functions as a slave. At this time, the second urinal device B or the third urinal device C Either one of the control units 6 functions as a master.

[Determination of master and slave]
As shown in FIG. 14, when the power is turned on, the CPU 12 of the first urinal apparatus A first determines whether or not it is the master by referring to the RAM 14 (step S78).

  At this time, the CPU 12 refers to the value indicating the master information stored in the specific area in the RAM 14, and when the value is 1, determines that the CPU 12 is the master and moves the process to step S79. Function to perform the main control function.

  Here, if the value indicating the master information is 0, the CPU 12 moves the process to step S98 shown in FIG. 15, functions as a slave, and executes the slave control function.

[Master control]
In step S79, the CPU 12 performs a process for starting the master timer in the RAM 14, and then moves the process to step S80.

  In step S80, the CPU 12 performs a process for starting an operation timer, and then moves the process to step S81.

  In step S81, the CPU 12 determines whether or not 30 minutes have elapsed since the master timer was started.

  Here, when it is determined that 30 minutes have elapsed since the start of the master timer, the CPU 12 refers to a predetermined area of the ROM 13 and transfers the authority as the master to the slave urinal device Z (second urinal device) B or the third urinal device C) is determined, a master transfer signal Sig7 is transmitted to the urinal device Z determined here (step S88), and then the process proceeds to step S89.

  In this way, the CPU 12 also functions as a determination unit that determines other control units that next execute the main control function.

  In step S89, the CPU 12 determines whether or not a third reply Sig10 indicating that the master transfer signal Sig7 has been received from the urinal apparatus Z that has transmitted the master transfer signal Sig7 has been received. The process proceeds to step S90, and when it is determined that the process has not been received, the process proceeds to step S91.

  In step S90, the CPU 12 performs a process of resetting the master timer, and then moves the process to step S98 shown in FIG.

  Further, in step S91, the CPU 12 performs processing for changing the transmission destination of the master transfer signal Sig7 on the assumption that communication with the urinal apparatus Z that has transmitted the master transfer signal Sig7 is impossible, and then the processing proceeds to step S88. return.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S81 that 30 minutes have not elapsed since the start of the master timer, the CPU 12 determines whether the time since the start of the master timer is 0 minutes, 10 minutes, or 20 minutes. A determination is made as to whether or not any of them is satisfied (step S82), and if it is determined that this is the case, the process proceeds to step S83, and if it is determined that this is not the case, the process proceeds to step S92.

  In step S92, the CPU 12 determines whether or not the present time is the timing for starting the operation of the Doppler sensor 4 of itself (first urinal device A), and determines that it is the timing for starting the operation of the Doppler sensor 4. If so, the process proceeds to step S93. If it is determined that it is not time to start the operation of the Doppler sensor 4, the process returns to step S80.

  In step S93, the CPU 12 operates the Doppler sensor 4 to perform control for detecting the human body and urine for 100 ms, and then returns the process to step S80.

  Further, in step S83, the CPU 12 controls the second urinal device B to specify the intermittent operation start timing of the Doppler sensor 4, the information to specify the operation interval of the Doppler sensor 4 during the intermittent operation, and the intermittent operation of the Doppler sensor 4. A process of transmitting operation timing information including information specifying a period at a time is performed, and then the process proceeds to step S84.

  In step S84, the CPU 12 determines whether or not the first reply Sig8 indicating that the operation timing information has been received from the second urinal apparatus B has been received. If it is determined that the first reply Sig8 has been received, the process proceeds to step S85. If it is determined that it has not been received, the process proceeds to step S94.

  In step S94, the CPU 12 refers to the operation timer to determine whether 10 ms has elapsed since the operation timer was started. If it has been determined that the time has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S95. If so, the process returns to step S83.

  In step S95, the CPU 12 determines that the second urinal apparatus B is in a communication disabled state, and thereafter performs setting so as not to perform communication with the second urinal apparatus B, and thereafter, the process is performed in step S85. Move to.

  In step S85, the CPU 12 sends information specifying the intermittent operation start timing of the Doppler sensor 4 to the third urinal apparatus C, information specifying the operation interval of the Doppler sensor 4 during the intermittent operation, and the intermittent operation period of the Doppler sensor 4. A process of transmitting operation timing information including information to be specified at a time is performed, and then the process proceeds to step S86.

  In step S86, the CPU 12 determines whether or not the first reply Sig8 indicating that the operation timing information has been received from the third urinal apparatus C has been received. If it is determined that the first reply Sig8 has been received, the process proceeds to step S87. If it is determined that it has not been received, the process proceeds to step S96.

  In step S96, the CPU 12 refers to the operation timer to determine whether 20 ms has elapsed since the operation timer was started. If it has been determined that the time has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S97. If so, the process returns to step S85.

  In step S97, the CPU 12 determines that the first urinal apparatus A is in a communication disabled state, and thereafter performs setting so as not to perform communication with the first urinal apparatus A, and thereafter the process is performed in step S87. Move to.

  In step S87, the CPU 12 performs a process of adjusting the operation timing of itself (first urinal apparatus A), and then returns the process to step S80. That is, the CPU 12 refers to the communicable state of the second urinal device B and the third urinal device C based on the processing performed in step S95 and step S97, and any slave urinal device Z communicates When it is impossible, the operation timing that has started the operation of its own Doppler sensor 4 at an interval of 300 ms so far is readjusted so that the Doppler sensor 4 starts to operate at an interval of 200 ms, Thereafter, the process returns to step S80.

[Slave control]
Here, a process performed when the control unit 6 of the first urinal apparatus A functions as a slave will be described.

  The control unit 6 of the first urinal device A functioning as a master for 30 minutes, or the control unit 6 of the first urinal device A set as a slave when the power is turned on, first of all, as shown in FIG. It is determined whether or not the master transfer signal Sig7 has been received from the urinal device Z (here, the control unit 6 of the second urinal device B or the third urinal device C). The process proceeds to step S99, and if it is determined that it has not been received, the process proceeds to step S100.

  In step S99, the CPU 12 performs a process of transmitting a third reply Sig10 indicating that the master transfer signal Sig7 has been received to the master urinal device Z, and then moves the process to step S79 shown in FIG.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S98 that the third reply Sig10 has not been received, the CPU 12 functions as a slave and determines whether or not the operation timing information has been received from the master urinal device Z (step S98). S100), if it is determined that it has been received, the process proceeds to step S101, and if it is determined that it has not been received, the process proceeds to step S103.

  In step S101, the CPU 12 performs a process of transmitting a first reply Sig8 indicating that the operation timing information has been received to the master urinal device Z, and then moves the process to step S102.

  In step S102, the CPU 12 performs a process for adjusting the operation timing, and then returns the process to step S98. That is, the CPU 12 refers to the operation timing information received from the master urinal device Z, the intermittent operation start timing of the Doppler sensor 4 of itself (first urinal device A), and the operation of the Doppler sensor 4 during the intermittent operation. If there is a change between the interval and the intermittent operation period of the Doppler sensor 4, the operation timing of the Doppler sensor 4 is adjusted according to the change, and then the process returns to Step S98.

  In step S103, the CPU 12 determines whether or not the present time is the timing for starting the operation of the Doppler sensor 4 of itself (first urinal device A), and is the timing for starting the operation of the Doppler sensor 4. If it is determined, the process proceeds to step S104. If it is determined that it is not time to start the operation of the Doppler sensor 4, the process returns to step S98.

  In step S104, the CPU 12 operates the Doppler sensor 4 to perform control for detecting the human body and urine for 100 ms, and then returns the process to step S98.

  In the third embodiment, the urinal washing system 1 including three urinal apparatuses Z is described as an example. However, the urinal washing system 1 is configured by four or more urinal apparatuses Z. You can also.

  However, in that case, it is necessary to add the same processing flow as that of Step S83, Step S84, Step S94, and Step S95 described in the master control flowchart shown in FIG. 14 for the number of slave urinal devices Z. .

  Then, in each process corresponding to the added step S83, the transmission destination of the operation timing information is the urinal device Z of each slave, and in each process corresponding to step S95, the target that is determined to be incapable of communication is the first. Each urinal apparatus Z that did not transmit the reply Sig8.

  Further, in each process corresponding to step S94, times obtained by multiplying the order in which the operation timing information is transmitted in the plurality of slave urinal apparatuses Z by 10 ms are respectively substituted.

  As described above, as described in the first to third embodiments, according to the urinal washing system 1 according to the present embodiment, one of the plurality of urinal devices Z is a master, and the other urinal devices Z After the master urinal device Z operates the Doppler sensor 4, the master urinal device Z transmits the operation timing information from the master urinal device Z to the slave urinal device Z, and based on this operation timing information, the slave urinal device Z Since the Doppler sensor 4 provided in the urinal device Z is operated, the Doppler sensor 4 provided in the slave urinal device Z is at a predetermined timing determined by the control unit 6 of the master urinal device Z. As a result, the plurality of Doppler sensors 4 do not transmit the radio wave Sig1 and receive the reflected wave Sig2 at the same time.

  Therefore, the radio wave Sig1 transmitted from different Doppler sensors 4 and the reflected wave Sig2 received do not interfere with each other, and the automatic cleaning function of the urinal device Z does not malfunction.

  This eliminates the need for preparing multiple types of Doppler sensors 4 for transmitting radio waves Sig1 having different frequencies when connecting a plurality of urinal apparatuses Z having an automatic cleaning function, and having the same or close frequency. Since the Doppler sensor 4 that transmits radio waves may be prepared, it is possible to improve the return rate of profits with respect to the manufacturing costs of the urinal device Z and the Doppler sensor 4.

  Moreover, when adding the urinal device Z or performing maintenance and inspection of the urinal device Z, it is not necessary to perform complicated work such as checking the specifications of each Doppler sensor 4. Expansion work and maintenance inspection work can be performed easily.

It is the schematic which shows a urinal washing system. It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram which shows a urinal apparatus. It is a functional block diagram which shows an automatic washing unit. It is a timing chart which shows the operation timing of the Doppler sensor at the time of performing urine detection. It is a timing chart which shows the operation timing of the Doppler sensor at the time of performing human body detection. It is a timing chart which shows the intermittent operation timing of each urinal apparatus. 4 is a flowchart showing processing in a control unit of the urinal device of the first embodiment. 4 is a flowchart showing processing in a control unit of the urinal device of the first embodiment. 10 is a timing chart showing communication timings between control units and operation timings of respective Doppler sensors in the second embodiment. 10 is a flowchart showing processing performed by a control unit of the urinal device according to the second embodiment. 10 is a flowchart showing processing performed by a control unit of the urinal device according to the second embodiment. 10 is a flowchart showing processing performed by a control unit of the urinal device according to the second embodiment. 10 is a flowchart showing processing performed by a control unit of the urinal device according to the second embodiment. 10 is a flowchart showing processing performed by a control unit of the urinal device according to the third embodiment. 10 is a flowchart showing processing performed by a control unit of the urinal device according to the third embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

1 Urinal washing system
2 Urinal
3 Automatic cleaning unit
4 Doppler sensor
5 Valve
6 Control part
7 Water supply pipe
8 Drain pipe
9 Transmitter
10 Receiver
11 Differential signal generator
12 CPU
13 ROM
14 RAM
15 Valve drive
16 Doppler sensor drive
17 Communications department

Claims (5)

Multiple urinals,
Each of the plurality of urinals, transmitting means for transmitting radio waves toward the ball portion in the urinal, receiving means for receiving reflection of radio waves transmitted by the transmitting means, and frequency of the transmitted radio waves A Doppler sensor comprising difference signal generation means for generating a difference signal with the frequency of the received radio wave;
Control means provided in each of the plurality of urinals, and detecting a human body or urine based on the difference signal;
Cleaning means for cleaning the toilet based on the detection result by the control means;
In a urinal washing system having
Provided in each of the urinals, comprising communication means for communicating with other control means under the control of the control means;
The control means provided in one of the plurality of urinals is configured to intermittently operate the Doppler sensors controlled by the control means including the control means so that their operation periods do not overlap each other. A main control function for transmitting operation timing information for specifying the operation timing of the Doppler sensor to the control unit of the other urinals through the communication unit is executed,
Each control means that has received the operation timing information executes a sub-control function for intermittently operating each Doppler sensor based on the operation timing information.   The operation timing information is information specifying the start timing of the intermittent operation of each Doppler sensor provided in the other urinals, information specifying the operation interval of each Doppler sensor during the intermittent operation, and each The urinal washing system according to claim 1, further comprising information specifying an intermittent operation period of the Doppler sensor. The operation timing information includes operation start permission information for permitting operation start of the Doppler sensor to the control means provided in the other urinal,
3. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the control unit that executes the sub control function intermittently operates the Doppler sensor every time the operation start permission information is received via the communication unit. Urinal washing system. The control means that executes the main control function includes a determination means that determines another control means that next executes the main control function,
The slave control function is executed after transmitting main control function start permission information permitting execution of the main control function to the control means determined by the determination means via a communication means at a predetermined timing. The urinal washing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.   Each control means intermittently operates the Doppler sensor for a first intermittent operation period to detect a human body, and then detects a second intermittent operation period shorter than the first intermittent operation period to detect urine. The urinal washing system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the urinal washing system is operated.

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