JP2012117256A - Automatic faucet - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic faucet which can discharge water selectively when a hand is stretched out.SOLUTION: An automatic faucet includes a water discharge pipe 101, a supply adjustment part 102 for adjusting supply of water to the water discharge pipe 101, a temperature sensor 103 for detecting temperature in the vicinity of a water discharge port of the water discharge pipe 101, a hand determination part 106 for determining whether a hand is disposed in the vicinity of the water discharge port with temperature detected by the temperature sensor 103, and a control part 108 which, if the hand determination part 106 determines that a hand is disposed in the vicinity of the water discharge port, controls the supply adjustment part 102 so as to discharge water from the water discharge pipe 101.

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic faucet.

  As a conventional technique, it has a light emitting part and a light receiving part, and the water discharge pipe is provided with an infrared type detection sensor that receives reflected light by a detection target such as a human body of infrared light emitted from the light emitting part. In the automatic water faucet that automatically discharges water from the water outlet under the control of the control unit based on the detection of the detection target in the detection area set by the detection sensor, the detection sensor detects the detection target in the detection area. In the state where the detection is performed, the control unit moves the detection target from the near position inside the boundary position set to a position closer to the far limit of the detection area to the far position outside, and the detection target is the detection target There has been known an automatic faucet characterized by notifying a user that the user has moved to a far position. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

JP 2010-7263 A (first page, FIG. 1 etc.)

  However, in a conventional automatic faucet etc., if you accidentally drop your belongings such as a bag or a mobile phone under the faucet, water will react to this baggage and your belongings will get wet There was a problem.

  The automatic faucet of the present invention includes a water discharge pipe, a supply adjustment unit that adjusts the supply of water to the water discharge pipe, a temperature sensor that detects the temperature near the water discharge destination of the water discharge pipe, and the temperature detected by the temperature sensor, A hand determination unit that determines whether or not a hand is placed in the vicinity of the water discharge destination, and a control unit that controls the supply adjustment unit to discharge water from the water discharge pipe when the hand determination unit determines that the hand is placed. It is an automatic faucet provided.

  With this configuration, it is possible to determine whether or not a hand has been placed near the water discharge destination from the temperature detected by the temperature sensor, and water can be selectively discharged when the hand is placed. When the object is disposed at the water discharge destination, it is possible to avoid the water discharge from being performed on the object.

  The automatic water faucet of the present invention includes a photographing unit that photographs the vicinity of the water discharge destination of the water discharge pipe in the automatic faucet, and a hand detection unit that detects a hand by image processing using an image of the photographing unit. The control unit is an automatic faucet that controls the supply adjustment unit so that water is discharged from the water discharge pipe when the hand detection unit detects a hand.

  With such a configuration, processing for detecting a hand in the vicinity of the water discharge destination is performed from an image of the water discharge destination, and water can be selectively discharged when a hand is detected. It is possible to prevent water from being discharged to this object when it is disposed in the area.

  The automatic water faucet of the present invention further includes an infrared sensor for detecting the presence or absence of an object in the vicinity of the water discharge destination of the water discharge pipe in the automatic water faucet, and the control unit includes a detection result of the infrared sensor and a hand judgment unit. It is an automatic water faucet which controls a supply adjustment part using a judgment result.

  With such a configuration, it is possible to detect the hand more reliably by using the detection result of whether or not the object is arranged in the water discharge destination region by the infrared sensor. Furthermore, for example, when an object is detected by an infrared sensor, it is possible to prevent unnecessary hand detection processing by performing hand detection or the like.

  Further, the automatic faucet of the present invention is a case where, in the automatic faucet, an operation reception unit that receives an operation for instructing water discharge from the water discharge pipe, and an infrared sensor detects that there is an object, and a hand determination unit However, the automatic water faucet further includes a manual control unit that controls the supply adjusting unit according to the user's operation received by the operation receiving unit when it is determined that the hand is not arranged.

  With this configuration, when it is determined by the hand determination unit that the hand is not placed, even if the hand is placed in the area of the water discharge destination, water discharge can be prevented from being performed automatically. Thereby, it is possible to prevent water from being discharged when picking up something other than the hand that has fallen into the area of the water discharge destination.

  In the automatic faucet of the present invention, the automatic faucet includes an infrared sensor that detects the presence or absence of an object in the vicinity of the water discharge destination of the water discharge pipe, an operation reception unit that receives an operation for instructing water discharge from the water discharge pipe, and an infrared ray A user who is accepted by the operation accepting unit when the sensor detects that there is an object, the hand judging unit judges that the hand is not arranged, and the hand detecting unit does not detect the hand. It is an automatic water tap further provided with the manual control part which controls the supply adjustment part according to operation.

  With this configuration, when it is determined by the hand determination unit or the hand detection unit that the hand is not placed, even if the hand is placed within the region of the water discharge destination, it is possible to prevent water from being discharged automatically. . Thereby, it is possible to prevent water from being discharged when picking up something other than the hand that has fallen into the area of the water discharge destination. Moreover, when the operation reception part receives operation, water discharge is also possible and the state where water discharge is not performed at all can be avoided.

  In the automatic faucet of the present invention, in the automatic faucet, the manual control unit is designated in advance after the supply control unit is controlled according to the user's operation received by the operation receiving unit. This is an automatic water faucet that terminates the control of the supply adjusting unit when the condition is met.

  With such a configuration, it is possible to automatically recover from a state where water is not automatically discharged. Thereby, for example, after picking up the thing etc. which fell to the water discharge destination area | region, it can return to the state in which water discharge is performed automatically.

  According to the automatic faucet of the present invention, water can be discharged selectively when a hand is pushed out.

The figure which shows the structure of the automatic faucet 1 in embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows an example of the appearance of the automatic faucet Flow chart showing the operation of the automatic faucet Schematic showing the condition when using the automatic faucet The figure which shows the still picture of the spout tip area which the automatic faucet photographed Schematic showing the condition when using the automatic faucet The figure which shows the still picture of the spout tip area which the automatic faucet photographed

  Hereinafter, embodiments of an automatic faucet and the like will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, since the component which attached | subjected the same code | symbol in embodiment performs the same operation | movement, description may be abbreviate | omitted again.

(Embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an automatic faucet 1 in the present embodiment.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an external appearance of the automatic faucet according to the present embodiment as viewed from the upper right side (FIG. 2A), and a diagram showing an example of the outer appearance when viewed from the lower right side (FIG. 2B). )).

  The automatic faucet 1 includes a water discharge pipe 101, a supply adjustment unit 102, a temperature sensor 103, an infrared sensor 104, an imaging unit 105, a hand determination unit 106, a hand detection unit 107, a control unit 108, an operation reception unit 109, and a manual control unit 110. Is provided.

  The water discharge pipe 101 is connected to the water supply pipe 20 via the supply adjusting unit 102. Water is supplied from the water supply pipe 20 to the water discharge pipe 101 via the supply adjusting unit 102. The water discharge pipe 101 is a pipe for discharging water supplied from the water supply pipe 20. At one end of the water discharge pipe 101 that is not connected to the supply adjustment unit 102, a water discharge port 11 that discharges water supplied into the water discharge pipe 101 is provided. The water described here may be considered to include warm water. The water discharge pipe 101 is covered with a faucet cover 10, for example.

  The supply adjustment unit 102 is a member that adjusts the supply of water to the water discharge pipe 101. For example, the supply adjustment unit 102 adjusts the supply of water to the water discharge pipe 101 in accordance with a control signal output from the control unit 108 described later. In the present embodiment, the supply adjusting unit 102 only needs to be able to adjust at least whether the water supplied to the water supply pipe 20 is supplied to the water discharge pipe 101 or not. That is, what is necessary is just to switch at least the water supply to the water discharge pipe 101 and the water stop. However, the supply adjustment unit 102 may be capable of adjusting the supply amount when supplying water. The supply adjustment unit 102 is, for example, an on-off valve that can open and close a water flow path leading to the water discharge pipe 101. The on-off valve may be of any structure as long as it has a configuration that enables at least opening and closing of the flow path. Here, an example in which the supply adjusting unit 102 is an on-off valve is shown. As the opening / closing valve, for example, an electromagnetic valve capable of controlling opening / closing according to a control signal is used. However, the supply adjusting unit 102 may be other than the on-off valve.

  A temperature sensor 103, an infrared sensor 104, and a photographing unit 105 are installed in the vicinity of the water outlet 11 of the automatic faucet 1. However, the temperature sensor 103, the infrared sensor 104, and the imaging unit 105 may each be installed at a position away from the water outlet 11.

  The temperature sensor 103 is a sensor that detects the temperature in the vicinity of the water discharge destination of the water discharge pipe 101. The vicinity of the water discharge destination is, for example, the vicinity of the flow path through which water discharged from the water discharge port 11 flows. The vicinity of the water discharge destination is, for example, a region having a size that opens the palm including a region through which a flow path through which water flows passes. The vicinity of the water discharge destination may be, for example, a region including at least a region through which the flow path passes. The temperature sensor 103 is a non-contact type temperature sensor that is non-contact with a detection target. The temperature sensor 103 is, for example, a sensor that receives infrared rays emitted from the surface of an object, converts the infrared rays into an electrical signal corresponding to the intensity of the received infrared rays, and acquires information on the temperature of the object from the electrical signal. . The temperature sensor 103 is, for example, a so-called passive sensor that does not emit infrared rays. For example, the temperature sensor 103 is arranged with the detection destination facing the vicinity of the water discharge destination of the water discharge pipe 101. It is preferable that the detection destination of the temperature sensor 103 is substantially the same position as the detection destination of the infrared sensor 104 described later. As the temperature sensor 103, a thermal type sensor such as a thermopile or a thermistor that uses a temperature change of a sensor element that receives infrared rays, or a quantum type such as a photodiode or a phototransistor that uses a change of a sensor element that receives photons. Sensors are known.

  The temperature sensor 103 receives, for example, infrared light emitted from an object that has entered a region near the water discharge destination of water discharged from the water discharge pipe 101 (water discharge port 11), and the object that has entered from the intensity of the received infrared light. Detect the temperature. The temperature sensor 103 may detect the temperature when an infrared sensor 104 described later detects an object near the water discharge destination of the water discharge pipe 101.

  The infrared sensor 104 is a sensor that detects the presence or absence of an object in the vicinity of the water discharge destination of the water discharge pipe 101. The infrared sensor 104 is a non-contact type infrared sensor that is non-contact with a detection target. The infrared sensor 104 is, for example, a so-called active sensor that receives reflected infrared light emitted by the sensor itself and detects the presence or absence of an object from the amount of reflection. The infrared sensor 104 may be an object detection sensor that detects an object or a moving object.

  The infrared sensor 104 includes, for example, a light emitting unit 104a that emits infrared light and a light receiving unit 104b. For example, the light emitting unit 104a and the light receiving unit 104b are arranged in substantially the same direction as the water outlet 11, that is, in the same direction as the direction of water discharged from the water outlet 11, respectively. The infrared sensor 104 emits infrared light from the light emitting unit 104a and is reflected by an object that has entered a region near the water discharge destination of water discharged from the water discharge pipe 101 (water discharge port 11). Is received by the light receiving unit 104b, and it is determined that there is an intruding object when the amount of light received is equal to or greater than the set amount.

  The photographing unit 105 photographs the vicinity of the water discharge destination of the water discharge pipe 101. Then, the captured image is acquired. The image captured by the imaging unit 105 may be a still image or a moving image. The imaging unit 105 is arranged so that the imaging area is, for example, near the water discharge destination of the water discharge pipe 101. The photographing unit 105 is a camera including an image sensor such as a CCD or a CMOS, for example. Note that the imaging unit 105 may perform imaging when the infrared sensor 104 detects an object near the water discharge destination of the water discharge pipe 101.

  The hand determination unit 106 determines whether or not a hand is placed in the vicinity of the water discharge destination from the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 103. For example, the hand determination unit 106 determines whether the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 103 is within a predetermined range, for example, and the temperature is within the predetermined range. In some cases, it is determined that a human hand has been placed. The predesignated range is a temperature range that is considered to be the temperature or body temperature of a human hand. However, it may be a range including an error or the like. Further, a temperature range including the temperature and body temperature of a human hand, which is higher than the temperature of a general human belonging, may be set as a temperature range designated in advance. The temperature within the range designated in advance is, for example, the temperature within the range between the upper limit value and the lower limit value designated in advance. However, in general, there are not many human belongings that are higher than the human body temperature. It is good also as temperature. Information indicating threshold values such as an upper limit value and a lower limit value of the temperature specified in advance is stored, for example, in a storage medium (not shown).

  The hand detection unit 107 detects a hand by image processing using the image acquired by the imaging unit 105. Hand detection is, for example, determining whether a hand is shown in a captured image. Hand detection may be performed by any process. For example, the hand recognition processing is performed by shape recognition processing, pattern matching using a hand image prepared in advance, or the like. For example, the hand detection unit 107 captures, in advance, a plurality of images obtained by photographing a human hand and other objects (for example, a bag, a mobile phone, a business card holder, etc.) that are likely to fall into the water discharge destination during hand washing. For each of the images, contour extraction or the like is performed using a difference in luminance between pixels, and further, feature values of the contour are obtained from the extracted contours. Then, the feature amount of the contour acquired from the image of the human hand is learned in advance as a positive example, and the feature amount of the distance acquired from the image of another object and a negative example. Then, using this learning result, it is determined whether the feature value of the contour acquired from the image of the object photographed by the photographing unit 105 is similar to the feature value of the hand or the feature value other than the hand. By determining using an algorithm, it is determined whether the image captured by the image capturing unit 105 includes a hand image. Instead of using the contour, it may be detected whether or not the hand is photographed based on the color ratio or distribution of the photographed image. Instead of machine learning, it may be determined whether or not a hand has been detected from a distance between feature amounts of the hand outline prepared in advance. Also, an image taken by the photographing unit 105 in a state where no object is arranged in the photographing region is prepared in advance, and when the object is arranged in the water discharge destination region with respect to the prepared image. Alternatively, the difference between the images captured by the image capturing unit 105 may be acquired, and it may be determined whether or not the captured image is a hand from the feature amount of the color or shape of the difference image. Further, when a plurality of automatic faucets and the like are provided, a plurality of automatic faucets may be connected to each other via a network or the like so that information such as learning information as described above can be shared. For example, information such as learning information as described above may be stored in a storage medium (not shown) that can be shared and read by a plurality of automatic faucets via a network or the like. Further, a plurality of automatic faucet hand detection units 107 may be realized by a common MPU, memory, or the like. Note that the hand detection unit 107 sequentially performs the above-described processing for detecting the difference image with respect to the image captured by the imaging unit 105 at a predetermined or indefinitely designated timing, and when the difference image is detected, It may be detected that some object is arranged in the water discharge destination region. And when this is detected, you may make it perform the detection process whether this object is a hand. As a process for detecting the hand, for example, “Akira Sakano,“ Principal Component Analysis in Pattern Recognition—Example of Face Image Recognition ”, Statistical Mathematics, (2001), Vol. 49, No. 1, p. 23-42 "etc. may be used.

  For example, the hand detection unit 107 may perform hand detection processing each time the imaging unit 105 performs imaging.

  Note that the image used by the photographing unit 105 for detecting a hand is preferably a still image in consideration of increasing the processing speed. However, the photographing unit 105 may continuously shoot a plurality of still images so that the hand can be detected even in a fast movement, and the hand detection unit 107 may perform hand detection on the plurality of still images. In addition, the hand detection unit 107 may acquire a frame image of a moving image captured by the imaging unit 105 as a still image used for hand detection.

  When the hand determination unit 106 determines that a hand is placed, the control unit 108 controls the supply adjustment unit 102 to discharge water from the water discharge pipe 101. To discharge water from the water discharge pipe is to control the opening / closing valve to open when the supply adjusting unit 102 is an opening / closing valve. For example, if the supply adjustment unit 102 is an on-off valve, the control unit 108 outputs a control signal for opening the on-off valve to the supply adjustment unit 102 when it is determined that a hand is placed. In response to this control signal, the on-off valve that is the supply adjusting unit 102 is opened. Thereby, the water supplied from the water supply pipe 20 is supplied to the water discharge pipe 101 through the supply adjusting unit 102 that is an on-off valve, and water is discharged from the water discharge port 11 of the water discharge pipe 101.

  Further, the control unit 108 may control the supply adjustment unit 102 so that water is discharged from the water discharge pipe 101 when the hand detection unit 107 detects a hand. For example, the control unit 108 controls the supply adjustment unit so that water discharge is performed when the hand determination unit 106 determines that a hand has been placed or at least one of the cases when the hand detection unit 107 detects a hand. 102 may be controlled. Alternatively, the control unit 108 controls the supply adjustment unit 102 so that water discharge is performed when the hand determination unit 106 determines that a hand is placed and the hand detection unit 107 detects a hand. Anyway. Note that the control unit 108 may prioritize either the determination result of the hand determination unit 106 or the detection result of the hand detection unit 107. Either of the determination processes may be performed first, and if it is detected or determined that the hand is placed in the previous process, the subsequent process may not be performed. Note that the control of the supply adjustment unit 102 when the hand detection unit 107 detects a hand is the same as when the hand determination unit 106 determines a hand.

  The control unit 108 may control the supply adjustment unit 102 using the detection result of the infrared sensor 104 and the determination result of the hand determination unit 106. For example, when the infrared sensor 104 detects an object and the hand determination unit 106 determines that a hand is placed, the supply adjustment unit 102 may be controlled to discharge water.

  The control unit 108 may control the supply adjusting unit 102 using the detection result of the infrared sensor 104, the determination result of the hand determination unit 106, and the detection result of the hand detection unit 107. For example, when the infrared sensor 104 detects an object and the hand determination unit 106 determines that a hand is placed, or when the hand detection unit 107 detects a hand, the control unit 108 detects at least one of the cases. In such a case, the supply adjustment unit 102 may be controlled to discharge water. Alternatively, the control unit 108 discharges water when the infrared sensor 104 detects an object, when the hand determination unit 106 determines that a hand is placed, and when the hand detection unit 107 detects a hand. The supply adjustment unit 102 may be controlled.

  Note that the control unit 108 may terminate water discharge at any timing or trigger. For example, water discharge may be terminated when a predesignated time has elapsed from the start of water discharge, or the infrared sensor 104, the hand determination unit 106, and the hand detection unit 107 are newly added at a predesignated timing or the like. In the case where it is necessary to perform water discharge by acquiring the detection result and the determination result acquired in the above step, water discharge may be continued, and water discharge may be terminated if water discharge is not required.

  The operation reception unit 109 receives an operation for instructing water discharge from the water discharge pipe 101. The operation for instructing water discharge from the water discharge pipe 101 may be, for example, an operation for instructing opening of the on-off valve when the supply adjusting unit 102 is an on-off valve. The operation reception unit 109 may further receive an operation for instructing the end of water discharge from the water discharge pipe 101, that is, a water stop operation. For example, an operation for instructing to close the supply adjustment unit 102 that is an on-off valve may be used. The reception described here is reception of information input from an input device such as a button, a lever, or a touch panel. The operation reception unit 109 can be realized by an input device such as a button, a lever, or a touch panel, a device driver of the input device, a circuit corresponding to the device driver, or the like. In the present embodiment, a case where the operation receiving unit 109 is a button will be described as an example.

  When the infrared sensor 104 detects that there is an object in the vicinity of the water discharge destination area and the hand determination unit 106 determines that no hand is placed, the manual control unit 110 operates the operation reception unit. The control of the supply adjusting unit 102 may be performed according to the user operation received by the user 109. The control of the supply adjusting unit 102 according to the user's operation received by the operation receiving unit 109 is, for example, controlling the supply adjusting unit 102 according to an operation for instructing water discharge to discharge water from the water discharge pipe 101. Control. For example, when the supply adjustment unit 102 is an on-off valve, the valve is opened. Further, the control according to the user operation received by the operation receiving unit 109 is to stop the water by controlling the supply adjusting unit 102 in accordance with an operation for instructing the end of water discharge.

  In addition, the manual control unit 110 is a case where the infrared sensor 104 detects that there is an object, the hand determination unit 106 determines that no hand is placed, and the hand detection unit 107 If not detected, the supply adjusting unit 102 may be controlled in accordance with the user operation received by the operation receiving unit 109.

  By doing as described above, when there is an object other than the hand in the water discharge destination region, the automatic operation mode can be temporarily switched to the manual operation mode. Thus, for example, if an item such as belongings is dropped at the water discharge destination, even if you put your hand in the area of the water discharge destination to pick up this belonging, It becomes possible to pick up without getting wet.

  The manual control unit 110 controls the supply adjustment in accordance with the user's operation received by the operation receiving unit 109, and then the supply control is performed when the predetermined condition is satisfied. It is preferable to end the control according to the user operation of the unit 102. The predesignated condition is, for example, a case where a predesignated time has elapsed since the manual control unit 110 started control. Or it is good also as conditions on having discharged water by the operation which operation reception part 109 received. This makes it possible to return from the manual operation mode to the original automatic operation mode. For this reason, even when an object is dropped on the water discharge destination area, the automatic operation mode can be returned after a while has passed since the object was picked up. Whether or not the time specified in advance has elapsed can be detected, for example, by counting the time of a clock (not shown) of the automatic faucet 1 or operating a timer (not shown).

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the automatic faucet 1 according to the present embodiment. The operation will be described below with reference to FIG.

  (Step S301) The control unit 108 determines whether the infrared sensor 104 has detected an object in the water discharge destination region. If detected, the process proceeds to step S302. If not detected, the process returns to step S301.

  (Step S302) The temperature sensor 103 detects the temperature of the object.

  (Step S303) The hand determination unit 106 determines whether or not the object detected in step S301 is a hand, using the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 103 in step S302. Specifically, information for designating a predesignated temperature range is read from a storage medium (not shown), and the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 103 in step S302 is a temperature within the predesignated range. Determine whether. Then, if the temperature is within the range specified in advance, it is determined that the hand is a hand, and if not, the hand is determined not to be a hand. If it is determined that the hand is a hand, the process proceeds to step S304. If it is determined that the hand is not a hand, the process proceeds to step S306.

  (Step S <b> 304) The control unit 108 controls the supply adjusting unit 102 to start water discharge from the water discharge pipe 101.

  (Step S305) The control unit 108 determines whether or not to end water discharge. For example, start counting the elapsed time from the start of water discharge, determine whether the elapsed time from the start of water discharge has exceeded the time specified in advance, if it exceeds, determine to end the water discharge, if not Judge not to end. Alternatively, it may be determined that the water discharge is to be terminated when the infrared sensor 104 no longer detects an object. If it is determined that the water discharge is to be terminated, the supply adjusting unit 102 is controlled to terminate the water discharge, and the process returns to step S301. If the water discharge is not terminated, the process returns to step S305.

  (Step S306) The imaging unit 105 captures an area of the water discharge destination and acquires an image.

  (Step S307) The hand detection unit 107 determines whether a hand has been detected in the image captured by the imaging unit 105 by image processing. If detected, the process returns to step S304. If not detected, the process proceeds to step S308.

  (Step S308) The manual control unit 110 determines whether or not the operation receiving unit 109 has received an operation for instructing water discharge. For example, it is determined whether or not a button for instructing water discharge as the operation reception unit 109 has been pressed. If accepted, the process proceeds to step S309. If not accepted, the process proceeds to step S310.

  (Step S309) The manual control unit 110 controls the supply adjusting unit 102 to start water discharge from the water discharge pipe 101. Then, the process proceeds to step S304.

  (Step S310) The manual control unit 110 has elapsed time from the time when the hand detection unit 107 determines that a hand is not detected in the process of detecting the hand in Step S307, or has elapsed since the time when the infrared sensor 104 detected an object. It is determined whether or not the time exceeds a predetermined time. If exceeded, the process returns to step S301, and if not exceeded, the process returns to step S308.

  In the flowchart of FIG. 3, the process ends when the power is turned off or the process is terminated.

  Hereinafter, a specific operation of the automatic faucet 1 in the present embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a state in which the user puts his hand below the water outlet of the automatic water tap 1. In the figure, an area 40 indicates an imaging area of the imaging unit 105. The infrared sensor 104 and the temperature sensor 103 are arranged so as to be able to detect infrared rays and temperatures at substantially the same position in the region 40. A region 40 is a region in the vicinity of the water discharge destination of the automatic faucet 1.

  First, as shown in FIG. 4, if the user puts his / her hand below the spout of the automatic faucet 1 in the area 40, the infrared sensor 104 detects the hand as an object, indicating that the object has been detected. The signal is output to the control unit 108.

  Since the infrared sensor 104 detects the object, the temperature sensor 103 detects the temperature of the object detected by the infrared sensor 104. For example, it is assumed that the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 103 is 36.1 ° C.

  Next, the hand determination unit 106 acquires information indicating a predesignated temperature range stored in a storage medium (not shown). Here, it is assumed that the information indicating the temperature range is a threshold value indicating the lower limit value of the temperature range and is 35 ° C. Then, the hand determination unit 106 determines whether or not the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 103 exceeds the lower limit value. Here, since the temperature 36.1 ° C. detected by the temperature sensor 103 is higher than the lower limit of 35 ° C., the hand determination unit 106 determines that the object detected by the infrared sensor 104 is a hand.

  Since the hand determination unit 106 determines that the hand is a hand, the control unit 108 outputs a control signal instructing the supply adjusting unit 102 that is an on-off valve to open the valve. When the supply adjusting unit 102 opens the valve in response to this control signal, the flow path leading to the water discharge pipe 101 is opened, water is supplied from the water supply pipe 20 to the water discharge pipe 101, and water is discharged from the water discharge port 11. The

  The control unit 108 measures the time from the start of water discharge, and outputs a control signal that instructs the supply adjusting unit 102 that is an on-off valve to close the valve when the time reaches a predetermined time. To end the water discharge.

  Here, it is assumed that the surface temperature of the user's hand is temporarily very low, and the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 103 is lower than the lower limit of 35 ° C. described above. In this case, the hand determination unit 106 does not determine that the object detected by the infrared sensor 104 is a hand. Therefore, the hand detection process by the hand detection unit 107 is performed next.

  First, the imaging unit 105 captures a still image in the area 40. Then, the hand detection unit 107 acquires an image photographed by the photographing unit 105. For example, the imaging unit 105 may perform imaging in accordance with an instruction to perform imaging output from the hand detection unit 107 after determination by the hand determination unit 106. Note that the image capturing unit 105 always repeats to capture an image, and the image captured by the image capturing unit 105 is captured immediately after the infrared sensor 104 detects an object or immediately after the determination by the hand determining unit 106. The captured image may be output from the imaging unit 105 to the hand detection unit 107, or the hand detection unit 107 may acquire the image from the imaging unit 105.

  FIG. 5 is a still image of the area 40 photographed by the photographing unit 105.

  The hand detection unit 107 extracts the contour of the object from the image shown in FIG. 5, detects the feature point of the contour of the object, and extracts the feature point from the images obtained by photographing a plurality of hands prepared in advance. It is determined whether or not the hand is detected in the photographed image by comparing with the feature points of the contour acquired by the processing or calculating the distance between the feature points. Here, it is assumed that a hand is detected.

  Since the hand detection unit 107 has detected a hand, the control unit 108 controls the supply adjustment unit 102 to start water discharge in the same manner as when the hand determination unit 106 has determined a hand.

  Here, it is assumed that, before the user puts his hand in the area 40, the mobile phone 60 held by the user is accidentally dropped into the area 40 as shown in FIG.

  The infrared sensor 104 detects the mobile phone 60 as an object, and outputs a signal indicating that the object has been detected to the control unit 108.

  Since the infrared sensor 104 has detected the object, the temperature sensor 103 detects the temperature of the object in the area 40, that is, the mobile phone 60. For example, it is assumed that the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 103 is 25.0 ° C.

  Next, the hand determination unit 106 determines whether or not the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 103 exceeds the lower limit value. Here, since the temperature 25.0 ° C. detected by the temperature sensor 103 is lower than the lower limit of 35 ° C., the hand determination unit 106 does not determine that the object detected by the infrared sensor 104 is a hand.

  Since the hand determination unit 106 has not determined that the hand is a hand, the imaging unit 105 captures a still image of the region 40. Then, the hand detection unit 107 acquires an image photographed by the photographing unit 105.

  FIG. 7 is a still image of the area 40 photographed by the photographing unit 105.

  The hand detection unit 107 performs object contour extraction or the like on the image shown in FIG. 7 and determines whether or not a hand is detected in the photographed image. Here, it is assumed that no hand is detected.

  For this reason, water is not automatically discharged from the automatic faucet 1, and the water discharge can be controlled by the manual control unit 110 for a predetermined time. Specifically, only the operation corresponding to the operation received by the operation receiving unit 109 is performed.

  For example, even when the user picks up the dropped mobile phone 60 and puts his hand into the area 40, the automatic faucet 1 does not automatically discharge water. Then, if the user picks up the mobile phone 60 and then presses the button for instructing water discharge, which is the operation reception unit 109, water discharge is started. This allows the user to wash their hands.

  Here, it is assumed that after the user picks up the mobile phone 60, the user leaves the place without pressing the button for instructing water discharge, which is the operation reception unit 109. In this case, after a predetermined time, for example, 20 seconds has elapsed since the detection processing by the hand detection unit 107 has been performed, the determination results and detection results of the hand determination unit 106 and the hand detection unit 107 are again displayed. It returns to the state where automatic control of water discharge by the used control unit 108 is possible.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, water is selectively discharged when a hand is recognized by a process for recognizing a hand, such as a process for determining a hand from temperature or a process for detecting a hand from an image. Thus, when something other than the hand is dropped on the water discharge destination, water discharge can be prevented and accidents caused by automatic water discharge can be prevented in advance.

  In this embodiment, as a configuration for recognizing a hand, an automatic faucet provided with a combination of a temperature sensor 103 and a hand determination unit 106 and a combination of a photographing unit 105 and a hand detection unit 107 will be described. However, in the present invention, the automatic faucet 1 may have only one of these sets.

  Further, although the case where the infrared sensor 104 is used has been described in the present embodiment, the infrared sensor 104 may be omitted. When the infrared sensor 104 is omitted, the temperature measurement by the temperature sensor 103, the photographing by the photographing unit 105, the processing of the hand determination unit 106 and the hand detecting unit using these measurement results and photographed images, etc. It may be repeated as appropriate at the specified timing.

  In the above embodiment, each component may be configured by dedicated hardware, or a component that can be realized by software may be realized by executing a program. For example, each component can be realized by a program execution unit such as a CPU reading and executing a software program recorded on a recording medium such as a hard disk or a semiconductor memory.

  In the present embodiment, the hand determination unit 106, the hand detection unit 107, the control unit 108, the manual control unit 110, and the like can be usually realized by an MPU, a memory, or the like. These processing procedures are usually realized by software, and the software is recorded in a recording medium such as a ROM. However, it may be realized by hardware (dedicated circuit).

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible, and it goes without saying that these are also included in the scope of the present invention.

  As described above, the automatic faucet according to the present invention is suitable as a faucet that automatically discharges water, and is particularly useful as a faucet that automatically discharges water when a hand is detected.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Automatic faucet 101 Water discharge pipe 102 Supply adjustment part 103 Temperature sensor 104 Infrared sensor 104a Light emission part 104b Light reception part 105 Image pick-up part 106 Hand judgment part 107 Hand detection part 108 Control part 109 Operation reception part 110 Manual control part

Claims (6)

A spout,
A supply adjusting unit for adjusting the supply of water to the water discharge pipe;
A temperature sensor for detecting the temperature in the vicinity of the water discharge destination of the water discharge pipe;
A hand determining unit that determines whether or not a hand is disposed in the vicinity of the water discharge destination from the temperature detected by the temperature sensor;
An automatic faucet comprising: a control unit that controls the supply adjusting unit to discharge water from the water discharge pipe when the hand determining unit determines that a hand has been placed. A photographing unit for photographing the vicinity of the water discharge destination of the water discharge pipe;
A hand detection unit that detects a hand by image processing using an image of the photographing unit;
The automatic faucet according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the supply adjusting unit so that water is discharged from the water discharge pipe when the hand detection unit detects a hand. An infrared sensor for detecting the presence or absence of an object in the vicinity of the water discharge destination of the water discharge pipe;
The automatic faucet according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control unit controls the supply adjusting unit using a detection result of the infrared sensor and a determination result of the hand determination unit. An operation receiving unit that receives an operation for instructing water discharge from the water discharge pipe;
When the infrared sensor detects that there is an object, and the hand determination unit determines that no hand is placed, the supply adjustment according to the user operation received by the operation reception unit The automatic faucet according to claim 3, further comprising a manual control unit for controlling the unit. An infrared sensor for detecting the presence or absence of an object in the vicinity of the water discharge destination of the water discharge pipe;
An operation receiving unit that receives an operation for instructing water discharge from the water discharge pipe;
When the infrared sensor detects that there is an object, the hand determination unit determines that a hand is not placed, and the hand detection unit does not detect the hand, the operation reception is performed. The automatic water faucet according to claim 2, further comprising a manual control unit that controls the supply adjusting unit according to a user operation received by the unit. The manual control unit controls the supply adjustment unit according to the user's operation received by the operation reception unit, and then the supply adjustment is performed when a predetermined condition is satisfied. The automatic faucet according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the control of the section is terminated.

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