JP2013066581A - Toilet device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To determine user's intention, and control the up and down operation of a toilet seat as the intention by detecting a user's action with the intention without contact.SOLUTION: A toilet device detects at least a portion of action of a human body by an action discrimination means 14, controls a toilet seat motor 5 by a motor control means 7 corresponding to the detected action, and rotates the toilet seat 4. The user's action with the intention is detected and the operation of the toilet seat is controlled as the user's intention.

Description

  The present invention relates to a toilet apparatus that detects the operation of a user who uses a toilet and performs various controls on the toilet.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a toilet apparatus that includes a human body detection sensor, detects a user approaching a toilet, and automatically opens the toilet lid is well known. By doing so, the user who cares about hygiene has the effect of ensuring comfort by touching things as much as possible in the toilet space.

  However, for the toilet seat, it is common to start up when a man uses it for small use, and to sit down when not using it, so it is difficult to detect only that male use, It is common to directly lift or lower by hand, or there is a type in which a toilet seat button is provided in an operation unit to control the raising and lowering of the toilet seat by the user's operation.

  However, the user who cares about hygiene wants to avoid touching the operation section as well as touching the toilet seat.

  In order to automatically control the toilet seat, for example, using special footwear, whether or not the footwear can be detected from the toilet seat, if it can be detected, the footwear faces the toilet seat, which means that the user The toilet seat is launched as if it is facing. If it is not detected, there is a method in which the footwear does not face the toilet seat, and the user puts the toilet seat down as if the user is turning his back to the toilet bowl (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  Also, as a means to raise or lower the toilet seat without touching the toilet seat or the operation unit, connect a motor that drives the opening / closing of the toilet seat to the detection unit that detects that an object is approaching, and bring the hand close to the detection unit There is a method for controlling the raising and lowering of the toilet seat (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

JP 2006-61361 A Registered Utility Model No. 3153196

  However, in the first conventional method, there is an annoyance that special footwear must be put on. And even if it wears the footwear for exclusive use, it cannot necessarily detect correctly depending on the positional relationship of a toilet seat and footwear, and may cause a malfunction.

  Furthermore, even if it can correctly detect that the footwear is facing the toilet bowl, the user does not necessarily want to raise the toilet seat, but there is an inconvenience that the toilet seat rises up even though the user wants to sit down. For this reason, it is difficult to automatically determine whether the user wants to use the toilet seat by raising it or whether it wants to sit down.

  In the second conventional method, the user's casual movement is detected as proximity, and the toilet seat is likely to perform an operation not intended by the user.

  In other words, the toilet space is generally small at home, and the user is likely to squat down, stand up, take off clothes, and move, so a part of the body may approach the detection unit. is there. When the proximity is detected and the operation of the toilet seat is controlled, the operation of the toilet seat unintended by the user is likely to occur.

  The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and detects the user's intentional operation without contact, thereby judging the user's intention and controlling the raising / lowering operation of the toilet seat as intended. For the purpose.

The toilet device of the present invention is
Toilet seat and
A motor that rotates the toilet seat;
Motion detection means for detecting a motion of a part of the human body;
An operation determination unit that determines a specific operation from the movements detected by the operation detection unit; a motor control unit that controls the motor according to a determination result of the operation determination unit;
With
The motion detection means is composed of an illuminance sensor, and a plurality of illuminance sensors are arranged in accordance with a specific movement to be detected.

  With this configuration, part of the human body is detected by the motion discriminating means, and the motor is controlled to rotate the toilet seat in response to the motion detected by the control means. Thus, the operation of the toilet seat can be controlled as intended by the user.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, it becomes possible to detect the operation | movement which a user performs with an intention, and to control the raising / lowering operation | movement of a toilet seat as a user's intention.

The block diagram of the toilet apparatus in Embodiment 1 of this invention The figure which shows the time change of the output of the several illumination intensity sensor in the embodiment Flow chart for explaining the operation of the signal processing circuit in the same embodiment The block diagram of the remote control apparatus of the toilet apparatus in Embodiment 2 of this invention The figure which shows the time change of the output of the several illumination intensity sensor in the same embodiment, a light emitting element, and a light receiving element Flow chart for explaining the operation of the signal processing circuit in the same embodiment

The first invention is
Toilet seat and
A motor that rotates the toilet seat;
Motion detection means for detecting a motion of a part of the human body;
An operation determination unit that determines a specific operation from the movements detected by the operation detection unit; a motor control unit that controls the motor according to a determination result of the operation determination unit;
With
The motion detection means is composed of an illuminance sensor, and the illuminance sensor is arranged in accordance with a specific movement to be detected.

According to the present invention, the motion discriminating means detects at least a part of the human body and controls the toilet seat motor in response to the motion detected by the motor control means to rotate the toilet seat. The movement of the toilet seat can be controlled as intended by the user.

  In this case, since the motion detection means is an illuminance sensor, for example, when detecting the motion of a human hand, even if the hand touches the illuminance sensor and the hand completely covers the illuminance sensor, the motion is accurately detected. can do. If the motion detection means is an infrared sensor, the infrared sensor cannot detect a human hand if the hand is too close to contact the infrared sensor.

  In this way, the motion detection means consists of an illuminance sensor illuminance sensor, and the illuminance sensor is arranged according to the specific movement to be detected, so that even if the illuminance sensor is in direct contact, the user has an intention. The movement of the toilet seat can be controlled as intended by the user.

  The second invention further includes a main body including the toilet seat and the toilet seat motor, and a remote operation device provided separately from the main body, wherein the remote operation device includes the operation determination means, the remote operation device, and the Communication means for communicating with the main body.

  As a result, by installing the remote control means in a location different from the main body where the user performs operations such as attaching and detaching clothes at a close distance, only the operation that the user performs with intention is detected. It is possible to control the operation of the toilet seat as intended.

  According to the third aspect of the invention, in particular, the operation determination unit of the first aspect of the invention or the second aspect of the invention has a plurality of illuminance sensors that detect that at least a part of the human body is in proximity, so that any one of the plurality of illuminance sensors is preceded. The direction of movement of at least a part of the human body can be determined based on whether the person is close to the body, and the motor control means can control the driving of the toilet seat according to the direction of movement.

  The fourth aspect of the invention is particularly configured such that the plurality of illuminance sensors of the third aspect of the invention detect changes in illuminance, and the illuminance sensors can detect changes in illuminance blocked by a part of the human body. Are arranged. Thereby, the plurality of illuminance sensors are arranged so as to detect the direction of movement of the human body, the movement direction of at least a part of the human body can be determined, and the motor control means controls the driving of the toilet seat according to the movement direction. it can.

  In the fifth invention, in particular, the operation determining means of the third invention has a human body proximity detection sensor for detecting that at least a part of the human body is close to the illuminance sensor, so that at least a part of the human body is detected. When it is detected that the illuminance sensor is close, the operation can be determined by the illuminance sensor.For example, the malfunction of the illuminance sensor reacting with the movement of the curtain or foliage at the window as the user's action can be prevented. It is possible to check whether the user has moved in a location close to the illuminance sensor, detect only the movement that the user performs with intention, detect the movement direction of a part of the human body correctly, and adjust the toilet seat as intended by the user. The operation can be controlled.

  In the sixth aspect of the invention, in particular, when the human body proximity sensor of the fifth aspect is an infrared sensor, it is detected that at least a part of the human body is approached by infrared rays, and at that time, the user detects from the illuminance sensor. It is possible to check whether it has moved in close proximity, detect only the actions that the user performs with intention, and correctly detect the movement direction of part of the human body and control the movement of the toilet seat as the user intends Is possible.

In the seventh aspect of the invention, in particular, when the human body proximity sensor of the fifth aspect is an ultrasonic sensor, it is detected that at least a part of the human body is approached by the ultrasonic wave, and at that time, the user has illuminance. It is possible to check whether it has moved in a location close to the sensor, detect only the movement that the user performs with intention, and correctly detect the movement direction of a part of the human body and control the movement of the toilet seat as intended by the user It becomes possible to do.

  In the eighth invention, in particular, when the human body proximity sensor of the fifth invention is a radio wave sensor, the radio wave sensor detects that at least a part of the human body is approaching, and at that time, the user detects from the illuminance sensor. It is possible to check whether it has moved in close proximity, detect only the actions that the user performs with intention, and correctly detect the movement direction of part of the human body and control the movement of the toilet seat as the user intends Is possible.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the overall configuration of a toilet apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The toilet apparatus is attached to the upper surface of a toilet 1. The toilet lid 2 is opened and used, and is closed when not in use. The toilet lid motor 3 is a DC motor (direct current motor) for rotating the toilet lid 2 to perform an opening / closing operation.

  The toilet seat 4 is used by being lowered as shown in the figure when seated, and is used by standing when using the toilet 1 as in the case of a male use. The toilet seat motor 5 is a DC motor for rotating and driving the toilet seat 4 to perform startup and shutdown operations.

  The first light receiving element 6 is a light receiving unit that receives infrared signals from a remote controller to be described later. The motor control means 7 is constituted by a microcomputer, and controls the driving of the toilet lid motor 3 and the toilet seat motor 5 by the signal from the remote controller received by the first light receiving element 6 to open / close the toilet lid 2 and raise / lower the toilet seat 4. Control. The main body 8 includes the toilet lid 2, the toilet lid motor 3, the toilet seat 4, the toilet seat motor 5, the first light receiving element 6, and the motor control means 7.

  When the first remote controller 9 detects that a person is approaching, the first remote controller 9 wirelessly transmits to the first light receiving element 6 using an infrared signal. The first remote controller 9 includes a first infrared sensor 10, a first signal processing circuit 11, and a first light emitting element 12, and is in front of the toilet 1 in the toilet space where the toilet 1 is installed. It is attached to a wall.

  The first infrared sensor 10 is a pyroelectric infrared sensor and generates an output in response to a temperature change within the visual field range. When no one is present, walls such as a toilet space where the toilet 1 is installed are in the field of view, and the temperature within the field of view is stable. When a person enters, the temperature of the wall and the temperature of the human skin are different, and in many cases the human skin temperature is higher. Generates output.

  The first signal processing circuit 11 includes an amplifying circuit that amplifies the output of the first infrared sensor 10 and a determination circuit that includes a microcomputer that determines that a person has approached the signal. When it is determined from the output of the infrared sensor 10 that a person has entered the toilet space where the toilet is installed and has approached the toilet 1, the first light emitting element 12 is blinked, and the signal that the person has approached is To the light receiving element 6. The first light emitting element 12 is an infrared light emitting diode.

  When the first light receiving element 6 receives from the first light emitting element 12 that a person has approached the first remote controller 9, the motor control means 7 opens the toilet lid motor 3 in the direction of opening if the toilet lid 2 is closed. Is rotated and the toilet lid 2 is opened.

The motor control means 7 rotates the toilet lid motor 3 to close the toilet lid 2 when a predetermined time has elapsed since the toilet lid motor 3 was driven to open the toilet lid 2. Here, the predetermined time is set to be sufficiently longer than the time required for normal urination and defecation, for example, 10 minutes.

  The second remote controller 13 which is a remote control device wirelessly transmits a signal as an infrared signal to the first light receiving element 6 when detecting a vertical movement of a human hand.

  The second remote controller 13 includes an operation discriminating means 14 for detecting the vertical movement of the hand and a second light emitting element 15. The operation discriminating means 14 includes a first illuminance sensor 16 and a second illuminance sensor. 17 and the second signal processing circuit 18, and the second light emitting element 15 is an infrared light emitting diode. The second remote controller 13 is attached to a wall or the like within the reach of the user at the side of the toilet 1 in the toilet space where the toilet 1 is installed, or a little behind.

  The second light emitting element 15 and the first light receiving element 6 function as a transmitting unit and a receiving unit of a set of communication units, respectively.

  The first illuminance sensor 16 and the second illuminance sensor 17 are installed side by side, and both generate outputs in response to illuminance changes received by the illuminance sensor.

  The output characteristics of the first illuminance sensor 16 and the second illuminance sensor 17 will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 2, V16 is a time change of the output of the first illuminance sensor 16, and V17 is a time change of the output of the second illuminance sensor 17.

  FIG. 2A shows a case where the user swings his hand up from the bottom in front of the first illuminance sensor 16 and the second illuminance sensor 17. First, the second illuminance sensor 17 attached to the lower side. Generates an output with respect to the illuminance change, and then the first illuminance sensor 16 mounted thereon generates an output with respect to the illuminance change.

  On the other hand, FIG. 2B shows the case where the user swings his hand down from the top in front of the first illuminance sensor 16 and the second illuminance sensor 17. The illuminance sensor 16 generates an output with respect to the illuminance change, and the second illuminance sensor 17 attached below generates an output with respect to the illuminance change.

  The second signal processing circuit 18 includes a first illuminance sensor 16, a second illuminance sensor 17, respective amplifier circuits, and a microcomputer that reads and processes the amplified signals. It is determined which of the second illuminance sensors 17 has output first, that is, the pattern of FIG. 2A or the pattern of FIG. 2B, and the second light-emitting element 15 blinks based on the determination result. And transmitted to the first light receiving element 6.

  When the first light receiving element 6 receives a signal from the second light emitting element 15, the second illuminance sensor 17 generates an output first, and the first illuminance sensor 16 generates an output later. In this case, the motor control means 7 drives the toilet seat motor 5 to start up if the toilet seat 4 is in a lowered state, assuming that the user swings his hand up from below.

  If it is determined that the first illuminance sensor 16 first generates an output and then the second illuminance sensor 17 generates an output, it is assumed that the user swings his hand down from top to bottom. The means 7 drives the toilet seat motor 5 so as to be lowered when the toilet seat 4 is in a raised state.

The second signal processing circuit 18 includes a timer 19. For example, the output of the second illuminance sensor 17 does not occur within a predetermined time after the first illuminance sensor 16 generates an output, or the second illuminance sensor 17. If the output of the first illuminance sensor 16 does not occur within a predetermined time after generating the output, the user does not move up or down to drive the toilet seat. It is determined that there is no signal, and no signal is sent from the second light emitting element 15.

  The predetermined time usually includes a certain amount of time added to the time required to pass between the first illuminance sensor 16 and the second illuminance sensor 17 when a person swings his hand up or down. Within 3 seconds.

  For example, after the first illuminance sensor 16 generates an output, the second signal processing circuit 18 generates the output of the second illuminance sensor 17 within a predetermined time too early, or the second illuminance sensor 17 outputs the output. When the output of the first illuminance sensor 16 is generated within a predetermined time too early after the occurrence of, the user did not move up or down to drive the toilet seat. It is determined that there is no signal, and no signal is sent from the second light emitting element 15.

  The predetermined time is normally sufficiently shorter than the time required to pass between the first illuminance sensor 16 and the second illuminance sensor 17 when a person shakes his hand up or down, for example, within 0.05 seconds. That is the degree.

  When the second signal processing circuit 18 determines that the outputs of the first illuminance sensor 16 and the second illuminance sensor 17 are generated within a predetermined time range, and has raised or lowered the hand, the signal is transmitted. The timer 19 provides a time during which sensor output detection for a predetermined time is not accepted.

  That is, when the user swings his hand up, the user naturally swings his hand down as an act of returning it, which is swung down in front of the first illuminance sensor 16 and the second illuminance sensor 17. This is so that even if it is returned, it is not detected as an act for lowering the toilet seat.

  The predetermined time here is about 0.5 seconds or more, but it is not necessary to perform the next toilet seat drive for the time required for the toilet seat to rise from the standing state or to fall from the standing state. According to the required time, it may be about 1.5 seconds or more.

  The motor control means 7 receives a signal that the hand is swung up from the bottom while the toilet seat is standing up, or a signal that the hand is swung down from the top while the toilet seat is standing down. The toilet seat motor 5 is not driven.

  Next, the operation of the second signal processing circuit 18 will be described based on the flowchart of FIG.

  In FIG. 3, the second signal processing circuit 18 first determines whether or not there is an output in which the first illuminance sensor 16 has detected a hand in step S <b> 1, and if not, the process proceeds to step S <b> 2. If detected, the process proceeds to step S3. In step S3, the timer 19 starts counting the waiting time and proceeds to step S4.

  In step S4, it is then determined whether or not there is an output from the second illuminance sensor 17 detecting the hand. If not, the process proceeds to step S5, and if there is a change in output and a hand is detected, the process proceeds to step S6. In step S5, it is determined whether or not the waiting time when the counting is started in step S3 has passed a predetermined time t1. When t1 is passed, it is determined that the user has not moved the hand up and down, and the process returns to step S1.

On the other hand, if t1 has not yet passed in step S5, the process returns to step S4 and waits for the second illuminance sensor 17 to detect the hand. Here, as described above, the predetermined time t1 usually has a certain amount of time required to pass between the first illuminance sensor 16 and the second illuminance sensor 17 when a person shakes his hand up or down. In addition, for example, about 0.3 seconds.

  In step S6, it is checked whether the second illuminance sensor 17 has detected the hand too early, but it is determined whether or not the waiting time when the counting is started in step S3 exceeds a predetermined time t2. If t2 has passed, the process proceeds to step S7. If t2 has not been reached, it is determined that the user has not moved the hand up and down, and the process returns to step S1.

  Here, the predetermined time t2 is usually sufficiently shorter than the time required to pass between the first illuminance sensor 16 and the second illuminance sensor 17 when a person raises or lowers his hand as described above. For example, it is about 0.05 seconds.

  In step S7, since the output which detected the hand within the range of the predetermined time in order of the 1st illumination sensor 16 and the 2nd illumination sensor 17 generate | occur | produced, it is assumed that the user swung the hand down from the top The signal is transmitted from the second light emitting element 15. Then, the process proceeds to step S13.

  In step S2, it is determined whether or not there is an output from which the second illuminance sensor 17 has detected a hand. If not, the process returns to step S1, and if there is a change in output and a hand is detected, the process proceeds to step S8. In step S8, the timer 19 starts counting the waiting time and proceeds to step S9.

  In step S9, it is next determined whether or not there is an output in which the first illuminance sensor 16 detects a hand. If not, the process proceeds to step S10. If a hand is detected due to a change in output, the process proceeds to step S11. In step S10, it is determined whether or not the waiting time at which the counting is started in step S8 has passed a predetermined time t1. When t1 is passed, it is determined that the user has not moved the hand up and down, and the process returns to step S1.

  On the other hand, if t1 has not passed yet in step S10, it returns to step S9 and waits for the 1st illumination intensity sensor 16 to detect a hand. Here, as described above, the predetermined time t1 usually has a certain amount of time required to pass between the first illuminance sensor 16 and the second illuminance sensor 17 when a person shakes his hand up or down. In addition, for example, about 0.3 seconds.

  In step S11, it is confirmed whether or not the first illuminance sensor 16 has detected the hand too early, but it is determined whether or not the waiting time at which the counting is started in step S8 has exceeded a predetermined time t2. If t2 has passed, the process proceeds to step S12. If t2 has not been reached, it is determined that the user has not moved the hand up and down, and the process returns to step S1.

  Here, the predetermined time t2 is usually sufficiently shorter than the time required to pass between the first illuminance sensor 16 and the second illuminance sensor 17 when a person raises or lowers his hand as described above. For example, it is about 0.05 seconds.

  In step S12, since the output of detecting the hand within the predetermined time range in the order of the second illuminance sensor 17 and the first illuminance sensor 16 is generated, it is assumed that the user has raised his hand from the bottom to the top. A signal is transmitted from the second light emitting element 15. Then, the process proceeds to step S13.

In step S13, the timer 19 is once reset, the waiting time is counted again, and the process proceeds to step S14. In step S14, it is determined whether or not the waiting time that started counting in step S13 has passed a predetermined time t3. If not, the process returns to step S14 and waits for the elapse. If it passes, it will return to step S1 and will repeat checking the output of the 1st illumination intensity sensor 16 again.

  Here, the reason for waiting for the predetermined time t3 is to prevent the detection of the up / down movement for returning from the right / left movement immediately after the vertical movement of the hand is confirmed. In accordance with the time required for falling, for example, about 1.5 seconds.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the motion determination unit 14 includes the plurality of illuminance sensors 16 and 17 that detect that at least a part of the human body is approaching, so that the user's hand can Depending on the order in which the output changes due to the change in illuminance caused by blocking the light entering the illuminance sensor, it is possible to determine whether the hand has been swung down from the top or from the bottom up and down It is possible to control the driving of raising and lowering the toilet seat so as to be interlocked with each other.

  In the first embodiment, the plurality of illuminance sensors for detecting that at least a part of the human body is approached by the motion determination unit are arranged in the vertical direction. The same effect can be obtained even if it is used in the horizontal direction. In addition to this, there is only one illuminance sensor for opening and closing the toilet seat instead of multiple illuminance sensors. By holding up for a predetermined time, the light to the illuminance sensor is blocked and the toilet seat is raised, conversely, when the toilet seat is raised, the hand is held for a predetermined time to block the light to the illuminance sensor and the toilet seat is lowered is there. In particular, when the illuminance sensors are arranged up and down as in the present embodiment, the movement of the toilet seat and the operation instruction operation are linked to each other, which is easy for the user to use. Further, by arranging a plurality of sensors in accordance with the operation range to be detected, it is possible to reliably detect the operation intended by the user and reduce erroneous detection.

  The operation discriminating means using the illuminance sensor can be operated with a small amount of current consumption, and has an effect that the remote controller can be wirelessly controlled by a battery power source. In addition, even if the illuminance sensor is in direct contact with the illuminance sensor, the illuminance acts reliably so that the illuminance is lowered. Therefore, it is possible to accurately detect an operation performed by the user with intention. If this motion detection means is an infrared sensor, for example, if the hand is too close to touch the infrared sensor, the infrared sensor detects the human body and its motion by closing the light received from the human body. Can not do it.

  In the first embodiment, the first remote controller 9 is provided with the first infrared sensor 10 and the first signal processing circuit 11 for detecting that a person has entered the toilet space. The first infrared sensor 10 and the first signal processing circuit 11 may be integrally provided in the second remote controller 13 which is a remote control device without providing the circuit 9.

  As a result, only when it is detected by the first infrared sensor 10 that a person has entered the toilet space, it is only necessary to energize the operation discriminating means 14 that monitors the illuminance change by the illuminance sensors 16 and 17 and discriminates the operation. When the person is not in the toilet space, it is not necessary to energize the operation discriminating means 14, so that the battery life of the remote controller 13 which is a remote operation device can be extended. In addition to the effect of extending the battery life and reducing the user's effort to replace the battery, the illuminance sensor can be used when the user is not in the toilet space. It is possible to prevent malfunctions that react.

(Embodiment 2)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the part of the operation discriminating means 14, and FIG. 4 illustrates the configuration of the second remote controller 13 that is a remote control device including the operation discriminating means 14. It is a figure to do. 4 having the same functions as those in FIG.

  In FIG. 4, when the infrared light output when the third light emitting element 20 is turned on is reflected by an object in front of it, the second light receiving element 21 receives light and generates an output.

  The output of the second light receiving element 21 is related to the distance between the third light emitting element 20 and the object in front of the second light receiving element 21, and the output is larger as the distance is shorter, and the output of the human body is increased to a distance of about 10 cm. If a part, for example, the user's hand is close, it can be detected.

  It is the first proximity determination unit 22 that determines the proximity. If the output of the second light receiving element 21 is equal to or higher than a predetermined level, the first proximity determination unit 22 determines that some object has approached. The second proximity determination unit 23 monitors the output of the first illuminance sensor 16 and the third proximity determination unit 24 monitors the output of the second illuminance sensor 17, and determines that the illuminance change, that is, a part of the human body is approaching. .

  This is because the first illuminance sensor 16 and the second illuminance sensor 17 that detect a change in illuminance change the illuminance and generate a similar output even when the illuminance is moved by, for example, a curtain or a leaf of a window. Therefore, in order to confirm whether or not there is a part of the human body at a distance of about 10 cm, the magnitude of the output of the second light receiving element 21 when the third light emitting element 20 is turned on is also distinguished. Judgment.

  The light emission control unit 25 controls turning on and off of the third light emitting element 20. This means that a large amount of current has to flow to turn on the third light emitting element 20. Therefore, it is not always lit, but only when it is determined whether or not a hand is approaching about 10 cm, the current consumption is suppressed.

  For this purpose, the light emission control unit 25 is configured to accept inputs from the second proximity determination unit 23 and the third proximity determination unit 24, and when any of the proximity determination units determines proximity, The light emitting element 20 is caused to emit light.

  The motion direction determination unit 26 moves, for example, a hand of a part of the human body in the direction from the top to the bottom or from the bottom to the top of the determination order of the second proximity determination unit 23 and the third proximity determination unit 24. The movement direction is determined together with the confirmation that the hand has moved in a place closer than the determination of the first proximity determination unit 22 at that time.

  The third light emitting element 20 and the second light receiving element 21 that are infrared sensors function as a human body proximity detection sensor that detects that at least a part of the human body is in proximity to the illuminance sensors 16 and 17.

  FIG. 5 shows the case where the user swings his hand up from the bottom in front of the first illuminance sensor 16 and the second illuminance sensor 17 and the third light emitting element 20 and the second light receiving element 21, respectively. It is a timing chart which shows the time change of the output of this element.

  As in FIG. 2A, V16 is a time change of the output of the first illuminance sensor 16, V17 is a time change of the output of the second illuminance sensor 17, and I20 is the third light emitting element 20. , V21 is the time change of the output of the second light receiving element 21.

As shown in FIG. 5, when the hand is raised from the bottom to the top, the second illuminance sensor 17 attached at the bottom first generates an output with respect to the illuminance change, as in FIG. The third proximity determination unit 24 determines that it is close, and the light emission control unit 25 causes the third light emitting element 20 to blink in a predetermined pattern. The light emitted from the third light emitting element 20 is reflected by the hand and received by the second light receiving element 21.

  The second light receiving element 21 generates an output that matches the blinking pattern of the third light emitting element 20. And the 1st illumination intensity sensor 16 attached on the top generate | occur | produces the output with respect to an illumination intensity change.

  In this way, if the second illuminance sensor 17 and the first illuminance sensor 16 generate outputs in this order, and the second light receiving element 21 has the same output as the flashing of the third light emitting element 20, The movement direction determination unit 26 determines that the hand is swung up from the bottom. If there is no output from the second light receiving element 21 in response to the blinking of the third light emitting element 20, the operation direction determination unit 26 determines that the hand is not moved up.

  When the user swings his / her hand down from the top, the order of the outputs of the first illuminance sensor 16 and the second illuminance sensor 17 is reversed, and the first illuminance sensor 16 generates an output first. Later, the second illuminance sensor 17 generates an output.

  Here, the reason why the light emission control unit 25 blinks the third light emitting element 20 is to distinguish the second light receiving element 21 from outputting with other light such as natural light. This is for confirming that the second light receiving element 21 receives light by reflecting the light emission of the third light emitting element 20 by the output in the same pattern as in FIG.

  The operation of the second signal processing circuit 18 in the second embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In FIG. 6, the same operations as those in FIG. 3 of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

  If it is determined in step S1 that the first illuminance sensor 16 has detected an output of a hand, the process proceeds to step S3, the timer 19 starts counting the waiting time, and the process proceeds to step S101. In step S101, the third light emitting element 20 blinks in a predetermined pattern as shown in FIG. Then, the process proceeds to step S102.

  In step S102, it is determined whether or not light having the same pattern as the pattern in which the third light emitting element 20 is blinked in step S101 has been received. If there is light having the same pattern, the process proceeds to step S4. Return to.

  If it is determined in step S2 that the second illuminance sensor 17 has detected an output from the hand, the process proceeds to step S8, the timer 19 starts counting the waiting time, and the process proceeds to step S103. In step S103, the third and third light emitting elements 20 blink in a predetermined pattern as shown in FIG. 5, for example. Then, the process proceeds to step S104.

  In step S104, it is determined whether or not light having the same pattern as the pattern in which the third light emitting element 20 is blinked in step S103 is received. If there is light having the same pattern, the process proceeds to step S9. Return to.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, the third light emitting element 20 and the second light receiving element are used in addition to detecting the proximity of the hand and the moving direction by the first illuminance sensor 16 and the second illuminance sensor 17. 21 confirms whether or not the hand is close to about 10 cm, so that the user does not move the toilet seat up and down, such as a curtain on the window or a fluctuating leaf. It can be determined more reliably without being determined.

Further, since the third light emitting element is turned on only when the proximity of the hand is detected by the first illuminance sensor 16 or the second illuminance sensor 17, current consumption can be suppressed, and the third light emitting element is mounted on the remote controller of the battery power source. You can also.

  In the second embodiment, the third light emitting element 20 and the second light receiving element 21 that are infrared sensors are arranged at an intermediate position between the first illuminance sensor 16 and the second illuminance sensor 17. Can be determined, the intermediate position between the first illuminance sensor 16 and the second illuminance sensor 17 is not necessarily required, and the remote controller 13 on which the first illuminance sensor 16 and the second illuminance sensor 17 are mounted can be used. Any surface can be used.

  In the second embodiment, FIG. 4 is a diagram in which the infrared sensor, which is a human body proximity detection sensor, is composed of two separate bodies, the third light emitting element 20 and the second light receiving element 21. By using an infrared sensor in which the light emitting element 20 and the light receiving element 21 are integrated, the number of parts of the remote control 13 can be reduced, and the remote control as a remote control device can be made more compact.

  In the second embodiment, an infrared sensor including the light emitting element 20 and the light receiving element 21 is used as the human body proximity detection sensor. However, the pyroelectric sensor mounted on the first remote controller described in the first embodiment is used. A type infrared sensor may be used. This eliminates the need for power for light emission such as an infrared sensor composed of the light emitting element 20 and the light receiving element 21, thereby reducing power consumption and extending battery life.

  In the second embodiment, an infrared sensor is used as the human body proximity detection sensor. However, an ultrasonic sensor including an ultrasonic wave transmission unit and a reception unit based on reflection on a part of the human body may be used. As a result, the distance from a part of the human body can be determined with higher accuracy, and the user can react more quickly according to the user's actions and operation intentions.

  In the second embodiment, the infrared sensor is used as the human body proximity detection sensor. However, a radio wave sensor including a transmission unit that transmits radio waves as a signal to the outside and a reception unit that reflects on a part of the human body may be used. .

  In this way, in order to detect that at least a part of the human body is in proximity to the illuminance sensors 16 and 17, the human body proximity detection sensor can be used by using a human body proximity detection sensor having an operating principle different from that of the illuminance sensor. Only when it is detected that a person has entered the toilet space, it is only necessary to energize the operation discriminating means 14 that monitors the change in illuminance by the illuminance sensors 16 and 17 and discriminates the operation, and operates when the person is not in the toilet space. Since it is not necessary to energize the discriminating means 14, there is an effect that the battery life of the remote controller 13 which is a remote control device can be extended.

  Furthermore, not only the effect of extending the battery life and reducing the burden of battery replacement by the user, but also when the person is not in the toilet space, for example, the illuminance sensor is used by the user as a movement of the curtains or leaves on the window. Can be prevented from malfunctioning.

  Although the infrared sensor, which is a human body proximity detection sensor in the second embodiment, is mounted on the second remote controller 13 that is the same as the first illuminance sensor 16 and the second illuminance sensor 17, it may be mounted in another location. Good.

  For example, the first infrared sensor 10 that detects that a person mounted on the first remote controller described in the first embodiment is approaching may be used instead. In this case, it can be realized by providing means for directly communicating human proximity detection from the first remote controller to the second remote controller or means for communicating with the second remote controller via the main body 8.

In the first and second embodiments, the first remote controller 9 is provided with the first infrared sensor 10 and the first signal processing circuit 11 for detecting that a person has entered the toilet space. The first infrared sensor 10 and the first signal processing circuit 11 may be integrally provided in the second remote controller 13 which is a remote control device without providing the remote controller 9.

  As a result, only when it is detected by the first infrared sensor 10 that a person has entered the toilet space, it is only necessary to energize the operation discriminating means 14 that monitors the illuminance change by the illuminance sensors 16 and 17 and discriminates the operation. When the person is not in the toilet space, it is not necessary to energize the operation discriminating means 14, so that the battery life of the remote controller 13 which is a remote operation device can be extended. In addition to the effect of extending the battery life and reducing the user's effort to replace the battery, the illuminance sensor can be used when the user is not in the toilet space. It is possible to prevent malfunctions that react.

  Further, in the first and second embodiments, a product composed of a remote controller 9 that detects that a person has approached as a first, a remote controller 13 that includes an illuminance sensor, and a main body 8, and a person that approaches as a second The function of the remote controller 9 for detecting this is built in the main body 8, the product composed of the remote control 13 having the illuminance sensor and the main body 8, and the function of the remote control 13 having the illuminance sensor as the third function is built in the main body 8. As a product form, such as a product composed of the remote control 9 and the main body 8 for detecting that a person is approaching, and a product in which all functions of the remote control 9 and the remote control 13 are integrated into the main body 8 as the fourth, A suitable form can be selected and applied according to the size of the toilet room and the arrangement of the toilet and door.

  A toilet device composed of a first remote controller 9 that detects that a first person has approached, a second remote controller 13 that includes an illuminance sensor that is a remote control device, and a main body 8 is shown in FIG. Thus, since the remote control 9, the remote control 13, and the main body 8 can be installed at any location, no matter what the size of the toilet room or the arrangement of the toilet bowl and the door, The remote control 9 can be installed in a place where it can be recognized that the user has approached, the rapid heating of the toilet seat can be started immediately at the moment when the user appears at the door position, and the user performs operations such as attaching and detaching clothes at a close distance. The remote control 13 is installed in a place other than the main body 8, for example, in a toilet space where the toilet 1 is installed, such as a wall in front of the toilet 1, where the user can easily perform an operation (operation) with intention. So you can Easily detect operation only performed with the intention, it is possible to control the operation of the toilet seat as intended by the user.

  A second human remote controller 13 that is a remote control device without the first remote controller 9 is provided with a first infrared sensor 10 and a first signal processing circuit 11 integrally. The toilet device that includes the remote controller 13 having the function of the remote controller 9 for detecting approaching and the remote controller 13 provided with the illuminance sensor and the main body 8, as described above, allows the person to take a toilet with the first infrared sensor 10. Only when it is detected that the user has entered the space, it is sufficient to energize the operation determining means 14 that monitors the change in illuminance by the illuminance sensors 16 and 17 to determine the operation, and when the person is not in the toilet space, the operation determining means 14. Since there is no need to energize the battery, the battery life of the remote controller 13 which is a remote control device can be extended compared to the first case. In addition to the effect of extending the battery life and reducing the user's effort to replace the battery, when the person is not in the toilet space, for example, the illuminance sensor is operated by the user's movements, such as the curtains at the window or the fluctuation of leaves. It is possible to prevent malfunctions that react.

A toilet device that includes a remote controller 9 that incorporates the function of a remote controller 13 that includes an illuminance sensor and that detects that a person is approaching is provided near the main body 8 in the toilet space. Even if there is no wall suitable for installing the second remote controller 13 which is a remote control device, the user 8 intends that the main body 8 has the function of the remote controller 13 having an illuminance sensor. The movement of the toilet seat can be controlled as intended by the user. In addition, since the main body 8 incorporates the function of the remote controller 13 provided with the illuminance sensor, the power for controlling the function of the remote controller 13 can be supplied from a commercial power source, that is, a so-called household power source instead of a battery, like the main body 8. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the worry about the battery life of the function of the remote controller 13 including the illuminance sensor. In addition, since there is a first remote controller 9 that detects that a person has approached, as in the case of the first or second configuration, that the person has approached at the moment when the user appears at the door position. The remote controller 9 can be installed at a place where the user can recognize the image, and rapid heating of the toilet seat can be started immediately when the user appears at the door position. By the way, the meaning of the door position means that when there is a door, it generally means a position where people can be recognized when the door is opened, but when there is no door, when a person appears at the entrance of the toilet space. become.

The fourth toilet device constructed by integrating the functions of the remote control 9 and the remote control 13 into the main body 8 also has the function of the first remote control 9 for detecting that a person is approaching. Therefore, if a person does not appear at a position that can be recognized from the main body 8, it cannot be detected that the person has approached. However, in a general home, there are many arrangements of toilets and doors that can recognize a person when the door is opened, even if the main body 8 has a built-in function of the remote control 9. The toilet device in which both functions of the remote control 9 and the remote control 13 are integrated with the main body 8 can be provided at the lowest cost, and neither the battery of the remote control 9 nor the battery of the remote control 13 is required. There is no worry about it.
Thus, a suitable form can be selected and applied depending on the size of the toilet room and the arrangement of the toilet bowl and the door.

  In the first and second embodiments described above, the plurality of illuminance sensors are described above and below, but in this way, the movement of raising and lowering the toilet seat and the vertical movement of the hand are performed. This is because there is an effect that the operation can be easily understood.

  However, this does not limit the present invention, and even if a plurality of illuminance sensors are arranged side by side or arranged obliquely, it is the same to detect the moving direction of a part of the human body such as a hand. It has the same effect as driving the toilet seat as intended by the user without touching the toilet seat.

  As described above, the present invention detects the vertical movement of at least a part of the human body by the movement determination means, and controls the motor in response to the vertical movement detected by the control means to rotate the toilet seat. It is possible to control the toilet seat movement as the user intends by detecting the up / down movement performed with the hand, so that it can be applied to the toilet device, and also when the hand is dirty or wet It can also be used for such devices.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Toilet bowl 2 Toilet lid 3 Toilet lid motor 4 Toilet seat 5 Toilet seat motor 6 1st light receiving element 7 Motor control means 8 Main body 9 1st remote control 10 1st infrared sensor 11 1st signal processing circuit 12 1st light emitting element 13 Second remote control 14 Operation determination means 15 Second light emitting element 16 First illuminance sensor 17 Second illuminance sensor 18 Second signal processing circuit 19 Timer 20 Third light emitting element 21 Second light receiving element 22 Second 1 proximity determination unit 23 second proximity determination unit 24 third proximity determination unit

Claims (8)

Toilet seat and
A motor that rotates the toilet seat;
Motion detection means for detecting a motion of a part of the human body;
An operation determination unit that determines a specific operation from the movements detected by the operation detection unit; a motor control unit that controls the motor according to a determination result of the operation determination unit;
With
The operation detecting means is a toilet apparatus including an illuminance sensor, and the illuminance sensor is arranged in accordance with a specific movement to be detected. A main body including the toilet seat and the toilet seat motor; and a remote control device provided separately from the main body, wherein the remote control device performs communication between the operation determination unit, the remote control device, and the main body. The toilet apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a communication unit. The toilet device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the operation determination unit includes a plurality of illuminance sensors that detect that at least a part of the human body is approaching. The toilet apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of illuminance sensors detect a change in illuminance. The toilet apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the operation determination unit includes a human body proximity detection sensor that detects that at least a part of the human body is close to the illuminance sensor. The toilet apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the human body proximity detection sensor is an infrared sensor. The toilet apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the human body proximity detection sensor is an ultrasonic sensor. The toilet apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the human body proximity detection sensor is a radio wave sensor.