JP2011050586A - Toilet seat device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a toilet seat device in which the timing of opening a toilet cover can be switched. <P>SOLUTION: The toilet seat device includes a toilet seat box 2 installed on the rear upper surface of a toilet, a toilet seat 3, a toilet cover 4, a photoelectric sensor 7 and a pyroelectric sensor 8 for human body detection, and a control means for controlling the operation of the toilet cover 4 on the basis of human body detection signals of the sensors 7 and 8. When an entry into a toilet room is detected by the photoelectric sensor 7 or the pyroelectric sensor 8, the toilet cover 4 is opened. The photoelectric sensor 7 detects a human body which slightly enters the toilet room from an entrance. By operating the switch of a remote controller 20, the sensors 7 and 8 can be selected. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a toilet seat device installed in a toilet bowl, and more particularly to a toilet seat device that detects a human body by a human body detection sensor and opens and closes (stands up, lies down) a toilet lid and the like. More specifically, the present invention relates to a toilet seat apparatus that employs a pyroelectric sensor and a photoelectric sensor as human body detection sensors.

  A toilet seat device configured to detect a toilet user with a pyroelectric sensor or a photoelectric sensor and automatically operate the device is well known (Patent Documents 1 to 3). In Patent Document 1, a human body approaching the urinal is detected by a pyroelectric sensor, and thereafter, the human body is detected by an infrared light projecting / receiving sensor. In paragraphs 0031 to 0032 of Patent Document 2, it is described that a human body entering a toilet room is detected by a pyroelectric sensor, and a human body standing in front of the toilet is detected by an infrared projection sensor.

  In paragraphs 0081 to 0082 of Patent Document 3, when the pyroelectric sensor detects a human body with the toilet lid closed, the toilet lid is opened, and when the toilet lid is opened, the infrared light projection sensor is exposed. It is described that a human body standing in front of a toilet bowl is detected by the infrared light projection sensor. Note that paragraph 0081 of Patent Document 3 describes that when the pyroelectric sensor detects a user, the toilet lid is opened and the toilet seat is rapidly heated.

Reality 3-54215 JP2008-240495A JP2007-322253A

  Since the pyroelectric sensor has a wide detection area, a human body is detected near the entrance of the toilet room. The photoelectric sensor has a predetermined detection distance, and can detect a human body existing at a predetermined distance from the photoelectric sensor.

  When the human body is detected by the pyroelectric sensor as in Patent Document 3 and the toilet lid is opened, the toilet lid opens when the person is near the entrance of the toilet room. Conventionally, since the toilet room is large, even when the user wishes to open the toilet lid after approaching the toilet to some extent, the timing for opening the toilet lid cannot be switched.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a toilet seat device that solves the problems of the prior art and can switch the opening timing of the toilet lid.

  A toilet seat device according to the present invention (Claim 1) includes a case installed on a rear upper surface of a toilet, a toilet seat and a toilet lid supported by the case so as to be openable and closable, and a front of the toilet installed in the case. In a toilet seat device comprising a human body detection sensor and a control means for controlling the operation of the toilet lid based on a human body detection signal of the sensor, as the sensor, a pyroelectric sensor and a detection distance than the pyroelectric sensor A short photoelectric sensor, and a selection operation switch for selecting and operating the pyroelectric sensor and the photoelectric sensor, and the control means is a human body of the sensor selected by the selection operation switch. The operation of the toilet lid is controlled based on the detection signal.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the toilet seat device according to the first aspect, wherein the toilet seat is provided with a heater for heating the toilet seat, and the control means is configured to start energization of the heater when the pyroelectric sensor detects a human body. It is characterized by being.

  The toilet seat device according to claim 3 is the toilet seat device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the pyroelectric sensor and the photoelectric sensor are arranged at a position behind the toilet lid when the toilet lid stands, and the toilet lid stands up A second photoelectric sensor that is exposed to the body and can detect the human body in front of the toilet bowl is installed in the case, and the control means is configured to detect when the second photoelectric sensor is not detected by the human body or for a predetermined time after that. The stool lid is closed after the lapse of time.

  The toilet seat device of the present invention is a toilet seat device configured to detect a human body by a human body detection sensor and open a toilet lid or the like (only the toilet lid or the toilet lid and the toilet seat). And a photoelectric sensor having a shorter detection distance than the pyroelectric sensor and the photoelectric sensor. Therefore, it is possible to switch between a setting for opening the toilet lid as soon as it enters the toilet room and a setting for opening the toilet lid after a person approaches the toilet bowl to some extent.

It is a perspective view of a Western style toilet bowl provided with the toilet seat device concerning an embodiment. It is a top view of the toilet room which installed the toilet bowl of FIG. It is a circuit block diagram of the toilet seat apparatus concerning an embodiment. It is a timing chart which shows the action | operation of the toilet seat apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is a timing chart which shows the action | operation of the toilet seat apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is a timing chart which shows the action | operation of the toilet seat apparatus which concerns on embodiment.

  The first embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a Western-style toilet equipped with a toilet seat device according to the first embodiment, FIG. 2 is a plan view of a toilet room, FIG. 3 is a control block diagram, and FIGS. 4 to 6 are controls. It is a timing chart which shows the contents.

  A toilet seat box 2 as a case is installed on the rear upper surface of the western-style toilet 1. A toilet seat 3 and a toilet lid 4 are attached to the toilet seat box 2 so as to be rotatable in the up-down direction. Although illustration is omitted, the toilet seat box 2 is provided with a hot water washing nozzle and a bidet nozzle that eject hot water toward the buttocks of the human body seated on the toilet seat 3, a hot air drying fan that blows warm air toward the buttocks, and the like. ing.

  In the toilet seat box 2, as shown in FIG. 3, a toilet seat driving device 5 for driving the toilet seat 3 upside down and a toilet lid driving device 6 for driving the toilet lid 4 upside down are provided. These drive units 5 and 6 comprise a motor and a gear. A first photoelectric sensor 7 and a pyroelectric sensor 8 for detecting entry into the toilet room are provided on the upper surface of the toilet seat box 2. The pyroelectric sensor 8 can detect a human body in the detection area B of almost the entire front area of the toilet in the toilet room 11. The first photoelectric sensor 7 has an area A that is slightly closer to the toilet 1 than the toilet room entrance / exit.

  A second photoelectric sensor 9 is provided on the front surface of the toilet seat box 2. The photoelectric sensor 9 is for detecting a human body in the area A, like the photoelectric sensor 7.

  A seating sensor 10 made of a photoelectric sensor is provided on the front surface of the toilet seat box 2. However, as the seating sensor, various types such as a capacitance change type can be used.

  The photoelectric sensors 7, 9, and 10 include an infrared projector and a light receiver that receives reflected infrared light.

  The toilet seat 3 is provided with a toilet seat heater 3a. This toilet seat heater 3a is a rapid heating type that is not energized when the toilet is not in use and is energized when the first photoelectric sensor 7 or pyroelectric sensor 8 detects a human body and is rapidly heated. is there.

  In the toilet seat box 2, a control unit 9 is provided for controlling driving of the driving devices 5 and 6 and energization of the toilet seat heater 3a. The toilet seat box 2 is provided with a signal light receiver 15 for receiving infrared signal light from a remote controller 20 described later. Signals from the sensors 7 to 10 and the signal light receiver 15 are input to the control unit 9. In addition, signals indicating the lying state and the standing state of the toilet seat 3 and the toilet lid 4 are input to the control unit 9 from limit switches (not shown) provided in the toilet seat driving device 5 and the toilet lid driving device 6, respectively.

  A remote controller 20 is installed on the wall of the toilet room on the side of the Western-style toilet 1. The remote controller 20 has an anal washing operation switch (shower switch), a bidet washing operation switch, a dry switch that blows warm air, an anus washing (shower washing), a bidet washing, and a hot air drying stop. A switch is installed. The remote controller 20 includes a switch for adjusting the forward limit position of the washing nozzle, a wide washing on / off switch for adjusting the spread of washing, a toilet seat opening / closing switch for opening and closing the toilet seat 3, and a stool of the Western-style toilet 1 A large washing switch for flowing a large amount of water into the bowl and a small washing switch for flowing a small amount of water into the toilet bowl are provided.

  In addition, the remote controller 20 is provided with a selection operation switch that selects whether the timing of opening the toilet lid 4 is based on the first photoelectric sensor 7 or the pyroelectric sensor 8. However, instead of providing such a selection operation switch, when a plurality of specific switches among the above-described various switches of the remote controller are operated simultaneously, a switching signal for selecting the first photoelectric sensor 7 and the pyroelectric sensor 8 is output. You may comprise.

  In the remote controller 20, a transmission circuit for transmitting the operation signal of each switch as infrared rays toward the toilet seat box 2 is installed.

[Toilet lid opening / closing control by pyroelectric sensor 8]
The operation of the toilet seat device when a selection operation is performed so that the opening operation of the toilet lid 4 is performed by the detection signal of the pyroelectric sensor 8 will be described with reference to FIG.

  When the toilet user enters the toilet room 11, the human body is detected by the pyroelectric sensor 8 in the vicinity of the entrance / exit 12, and accordingly, the toilet lid 4 is opened and energization of the toilet seat heater 3a is started.

  When the toilet lid 4 is opened, the photoelectric sensor 7 and the pyroelectric sensor 8 are hidden behind the toilet lid 4, and the second photoelectric sensor 9 causes the photoelectric sensor 7 and the pyroelectric sensor 8 to be hidden in the toilet room 11 after the toilet lid 4 is opened. Detect human body.

  The photoelectric sensor 9 detects a human body that has entered the detection area A and has approached the toilet 1. Thereafter, when a person sits on the toilet seat, the seating sensor 10 detects the seating. Thereafter, when the seating sensor 10 detects that the human body has not been detected and the control unit 9 determines that the person has stood up (seated) from the toilet seat, the toilet seat heater 3a is turned off. Thereafter, the person leaves the toilet 1 and leaves the room. When a person moves closer to the entrance / exit 12 than the detection area A, the second photoelectric sensor 9 is not detected. After the seating, the toilet lid 4 is closed when a predetermined time T has elapsed. Note that the toilet lid 4 may be closed when a person moves closer to the entrance / exit 12 than the detection area A and the second photoelectric sensor 9 is not detected by the human body or when a predetermined time has elapsed since then. As the toilet lid 4 is closed, the pyroelectric sensor 8 detects the human body again.

  In addition, when the user sits again after the seating but before the toilet lid 4 is closed, the energization to the toilet seat heater 3a is resumed.

[Toilet lid opening / closing control by first photoelectric sensor 7]
Next, an operation example when the opening operation of the toilet lid 4 is selected and operated based on the detection signal of the photoelectric sensor 7 will be described with reference to FIG.

  Also in this case, as in the case of FIG. 4, when a person enters the toilet room 11, first, the pyroelectric sensor 8 detects it and energizes the toilet seat heater 3a. In the case of FIG. 5, at this stage, the toilet lid 4 is not opened, and the toilet lid 4 is opened when a person enters the detection area A and approaches the toilet 1.

  When the toilet lid 4 is opened, the first photoelectric sensor 7 and the pyroelectric sensor 8 are hidden behind the toilet lid 4, and thereafter, the human body is detected by the second photoelectric sensor 9 as in the case of FIG. . The subsequent operation is the same as in the case of FIG.

[For boys' small settings]
The toilet room is a boy's toilet room and may be used mainly for boys. In such a case, it is convenient that not only the toilet lid 4 but also the toilet seat 3 is opened together when entry into the toilet room is detected.

  FIG. 6 shows an example of operation when the toilet seat 3 and the toilet lid 4 are set to be opened at the same time. Note that FIG. 6 shows that the toilet lid 4 and the toilet seat 3 are simultaneously opened in the control example of FIG. 4 which opens the toilet lid 4 when a human body is detected by the pyroelectric sensor 8.

In FIG. 6, when a person enters the toilet room, it is detected by the pyroelectric sensor 8, and the toilet seat 3 and the toilet lid 4 are opened simultaneously. Further, since there is a possibility that the toilet bowl is used for general purpose, energization to the toilet seat heater 3a is started. Note that the heater 3a may not be energized when the toilet seat 3 and the toilet lid 4 are opened, and thereafter the energization of the heater 3a may be started when the toilet seat 3 is closed. When a person moves to the detection area A and approaches the toilet 1, the second photoelectric sensor 9 detects the person. If seating on the toilet seat 3 is not detected even after a predetermined time t ₁ (for example, about 3 to 5 seconds) has elapsed since the detection of the human body by the pyroelectric sensor 8, the energization to the toilet seat heater 3a is stopped. Thereafter, when the person leaves the toilet 1 and moves away from the detection area A, the second photoelectric sensor 9 becomes undetected, and after a predetermined time t ₂ (for example, about 60 seconds) has elapsed from this point, the toilet seat 3 and the toilet The lid 4 is closed. Note that the toilet seat 3 and the toilet lid 4 may be closed when the second photoelectric sensor 9 detects no human body. When the seating sensor 10 detects sitting while the second photoelectric sensor 9 is detecting a human body, energization to the toilet seat heater 3a is started, and energization to the toilet seat heater 3a is stopped after the seating.

  In FIG. 6, the toilet seat 3 and the toilet lid 4 are opened based on the detection signal of the pyroelectric sensor 8, but may be based on the detection signal of the first photoelectric sensor 7. The operation in this case is the same as that in FIG. 6 except that the opening timing of the toilet seat 3 and the toilet lid 4 is the time of detecting the human body of the first photoelectric sensor 7 as shown in FIG.

[Other embodiments]
In the present invention, operations other than those described above may be performed based on the detection signal of each sensor. For example, when a toilet deodorizing device is provided, it is started based on the detection signal of the photoelectric sensor 7 or the pyroelectric sensor 8, and is stopped after a predetermined time (for example, 1 minute) has passed after the seating. In this case, it is preferable to reduce the rotational speed of the deodorizing fan during the seating period. When the toilet bowl automatic cleaning device is provided, automatic cleaning is performed after elapse of a predetermined time (for example, 6 seconds) after sitting. In the case where a toilet rest lighting device is provided, it is turned on when entry into the room is detected by the pyroelectric device 8, and is turned off at the same time as the toilet lid is closed.

  In each of the above embodiments, a toilet seat box is shown as a case, but a low tank cover or the like may be used.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Western-style toilet 2 Toilet seat box 3 Toilet seat 4 Toilet lid 7 First photoelectric sensor 8 Pyroelectric sensor 9 Second photoelectric sensor 10 Seating sensor 11 Toilet room 12 Entrance / exit 20 Remote control

Claims (3)

A case installed on the rear upper surface of the toilet;
A toilet seat and a toilet lid supported by the case so as to be openable and closable;
A sensor for detecting a human body in front of the toilet installed in the case;
In the toilet seat device comprising control means for controlling the operation of the toilet lid based on the human body detection signal of the sensor,
As the sensor, a pyroelectric sensor and a photoelectric sensor having a detection distance shorter than the pyroelectric sensor are provided,
A selection operation switch for selecting and operating the pyroelectric sensor and the photoelectric sensor;
The toilet seat device controls the operation of the toilet lid based on the human body detection signal of the sensor selected by the selection operation switch. In Claim 1, the toilet seat heater is provided in the toilet seat,
The toilet seat device, wherein the control means is configured to start energization of the heater when the pyroelectric sensor detects a human body. In Claim 1 or 2, the pyroelectric sensor and the photoelectric sensor are arranged at a position behind the toilet lid when the toilet lid stands.
A second photoelectric sensor that is exposed when the toilet lid stands and is capable of detecting a human body in front of the toilet is installed in the case;
The toilet seat device is characterized in that the control means closes the toilet lid when the second photoelectric sensor is not detected by the human body or after a predetermined time has elapsed.

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