JP2015158113A - water discharge control device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a water discharge control device capable of accurately detecting an object by transmitting radio waves to the object to be detected timely depending on detecting situations which are changed from moment to moment.SOLUTION: A water discharge control device 2 includes, in a detection region where the resting state or using situation of a user at a predetermined position is detected, at least two transmission parts 12 for transmitting transmission waves, a reception part 13 for receiving reflection waves, a doppler signal generation part 14 for generating a doppler signal on the basis of the transmission waves and the reflection waves, a detection part 15 for detecting the resting state or using situation of the user at the predetermined position on the basis of the doppler signal, and a controller 16 for outputting a control signal to automatically discharge water from a water discharge part 20 depending on the detection result of the detection part 15. The controller 16 has a change-over part 17 for changing over one transmission part 12a into the other transmission part 12b. The controller 16 controls the change-over part 17 to change over one transmission part 12a into the other transmission part 12b depending on the detection result of the detection part 15.

Description

  The present invention relates to a water discharge control device that detects the presence of a user by sending a propagation wave in a predetermined direction and automatically discharges water from a water discharge unit.

  Conventionally, a human body and a urine flow are detected using a Doppler sensor such as a microwave Doppler sensor. The microwave Doppler sensor detects the movement of an object by transmitting the microwave as a propagation wave and receiving the microwave reflected by the object.

  The microwave Doppler sensor generates a Doppler signal from a difference signal between a microwave signal transmitted from the sensor and a signal received by the sensor when the microwave transmitted from the sensor is reflected by an object such as a human body. . The Doppler signal is a signal representing the movement of the object (for example, the approach of the object or the separation of the object), and the movement of the object can be detected from the Doppler signal.

  In the microwave Doppler sensor, in order to detect the movement of a plurality of objects such as humans and urine, the frequency component and the magnitude of the Doppler signal of each detection object must be extracted. For this reason, the Doppler signals of a plurality of objects such as the human body and urine are constantly acquired.

  For the purpose of detecting the movement of a plurality of objects as described above, a technique for transmitting a Doppler signal to a wide area including a plurality of detection objects and grasping the presence of a user is described in Patent Document 1 below. . In the health management device described in Patent Literature 1 below, the movement of a plurality of detection objects is detected by installing a transmission antenna at a position where the movement of the human body and urine can be detected.

JP 2006-38873 A

  By the way, when detecting the movements of a plurality of objects, the detection is not always performed while paying attention to all of the plurality of detection objects. For example, taking a urinal as an example, first detect the human body, detect if the user has stopped in front of the urinal, and then detect urine to confirm that urination has occurred. Then, the separation from the urinal is detected by a human body signal, and the washing water may be discharged.

  However, the conventional microwave Doppler sensor obtains signals of objects other than the object to be detected at that time even though the object to be detected changes in the detection state at each time. For this reason, these signals outside the detection target become noise, which is an obstacle to the accuracy of the detection result.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and according to a detection situation that changes from moment to moment, a water discharge control device that can detect accurately by transmitting a radio wave to an object to be detected at that time. The purpose is to provide.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, according to the present invention, a water discharge control device is a water discharge control device that automatically discharges water from a water discharge unit, and is in a detection region that attempts to detect a stationary state or use status of a user at a predetermined position. , At least two transmitters for transmitting transmission waves, a receiver for receiving reflected waves reflected by the detection target of the detection region, a transmission wave transmitted by the transmitter, and received by the receiver The detection result of the Doppler signal generation unit that generates a Doppler signal based on the reflected wave, the detection unit that detects a stationary state or usage state of the user at a predetermined position based on the Doppler signal, and the detection result of the detection unit And a control unit that outputs a control signal for automatically discharging water from the water discharging unit, and the control unit includes a switching unit that switches from one transmission unit to the other transmission unit. Depending on the detection result of the detection unit controls the switching unit, and from one transmitting unit and switches to the other transmission unit.

  According to the present invention, based on the Doppler signal, a user's stationary state or usage status is detected, and the transmission unit includes a switching unit that switches transmission from at least two transmission units according to the detection result. Therefore, it is possible to accurately detect a signal of an object to be originally detected in accordance with an actual use situation.

  In addition, the water discharge control device according to the present invention is characterized in that the switching of the transmission unit from one transmission unit to the other is repeated twice or more. In this preferable aspect, based on the Doppler signal, the stationary state or usage state of the user is detected, and switching of the transmission unit from one transmission unit to the other is repeated two or more times according to the detection result. Thus, when it is necessary to detect the movement of two or more detection objects, it is possible to more reliably detect the operation signals of the individual detection objects.

  Further, the water discharge control device according to the present invention is characterized in that one transmission unit is selected in accordance with a result of detection by repeatedly switching the transmission unit from one transmission unit to the other two or more times. In this preferable aspect, since the transmission unit is selected according to the result of detecting the switching of the transmission unit from one transmission unit to the other two or more times, the moving detection target can be identified, and the detection target It is possible to select a transmission unit according to.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the water discharge control apparatus which can detect correctly according to the detection condition which changes every moment can be provided by transmitting an electromagnetic wave to the target object which should be detected at that time.

It is a schematic side view which shows the urinal provided with the water discharge control apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block block diagram which shows the functional structure of the water discharge control apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a flowchart which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a flowchart which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is transmission pattern example 1 which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is transmission pattern example 2 which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, similar components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted as appropriate. FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing a urinal 1 provided with a water discharge control device 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the water discharge control device 2 is installed in a urinal 1, for example. The water discharge control device 2 radiates and transmits microwaves toward the front of the urinal 1, receives the reflected waves of the microwaves, detects the presence and behavior of the user, and displays the detection result. It is an apparatus which controls the water discharging part 3 according to it. The water discharge control device 2 has two or more transmission units (antennas), and transmits a radio wave having the intensity of a transmission radio wave such as the transmission intensity pattern 4 of FIG.

  As for the approach to the human body, for example, the user approaches the urinal 1 from a position away from the front of the urinal 1, so that the Doppler reflects the radio wave of the transmission intensity peak 4 a of the water discharge control device 2. It becomes easy to generate a signal. Further, the signal of the urine that the user has stopped in front of the urinal 1 and urinated easily reflects the radio wave of the transmission intensity peak 4 b of the water discharge control device 2.

  In addition, in this embodiment, although the example which installed the water discharge control apparatus 2 in the urinal 1 is shown, you may install not only in the urinal 1 but in a toilet bowl or a toilet bowl, for example. For example, when the water discharge control device 2 is installed in a handwasher, the microwave is transmitted so as to include an area including a standing position when the user uses the handwasher and two areas including a handwash position. In addition, for example, when the water discharge control device 2 is installed in a toilet, a micro wave as a propagation wave is generated in a region including a standing position when the user uses the toilet while standing and a sitting position when the user uses the toilet. Send a wave.

  Next, the water discharge control device 2 shown in FIG. 1 will be further described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a block configuration diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the water discharge control device 2 according to the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the water discharge control device 2 includes a propagation wave transmission unit 12, a propagation wave reception unit 13, a Doppler signal generation unit 14, a detection unit 15, a control unit 16, and a transmission switching unit 17. It has. The control unit 16 controls the water discharge unit 20 installed outside the water discharge control device 2. The transmission unit 12 includes at least two transmission units such as the first transmission unit 12a and the second transmission unit 12b illustrated in FIG.

  The propagation wave transmission unit 12 is a part that transmits the propagation wave to a detection region in which the movement of the detection target is to be detected. The transmission unit 12 outputs the transmitted propagation wave information to the Doppler signal generation unit 14.

The propagation wave receiving unit 13 is a part that receives the propagation wave reflected by the user. The reception unit 13 outputs the received propagation wave information to the Doppler signal generation unit 14. In FIG. 2, a configuration in which the transmission unit 12 that transmits the propagation wave and the reception unit 13 that receives the propagation wave that configure the human body detection device 2 is illustrated is integrated, but is limited to the integration configuration. Instead, the water discharge control device 2 may be configured with the propagation wave transmission unit 12 and the propagation wave reception unit 13 as separate bodies.
Moreover, since the transmission part 12 consists of two or more transmission parts, the transmission part 12 itself is not limited to an integral structure, You may comprise the water discharge control apparatus 2 by making each transmission part into a different body.

  The Doppler signal generation unit 14 is a part that generates a Doppler signal based on the propagation wave transmitted by the propagation wave transmission unit 12 and the propagation wave received by the propagation wave reception unit 13. The Doppler signal generation unit 4 outputs the generated Doppler signal to the detection unit 15.

  Based on the Doppler signal generated by the Doppler signal generation unit 14, the detection unit 15 calculates the speed of the moving object, which is the detection target, based on Equation 1, and the detection target is discharged from the signal amplitude intensity. It is possible to determine the approximate distance to the control device and detect the action.

  Based on the result of the detection unit 15, the control unit 16 controls the external water discharge unit 20, and also controls the transmission switching unit 17 to control whether or not the transmission unit 12 of the transmission unit 12 can transmit.

  The transmission switching unit 17 uses the control unit 16 to switch from which transmission unit of the transmission unit 12 the radio wave is transmitted. Although not shown in FIG. 2, for example, the transmission switching unit 17 can be realized by a switch that switches the supply of power to the transmission unit 12 to the ground state.

  A flow in which the control unit 16 controls the external water discharge unit 20 based on the result of the detection unit 15 and also controls the transmission switching unit 17 to control the transmission availability of two or more transmission units of the transmission unit 12. Will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. In FIG. 3, FIG. 4, and FIG. 5, the radio wave transmission directions of “both”, “front”, and “down” are the radio wave transmission patterns shown in FIGS.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, in step S501, detection of the approach of a human body using a Doppler signal is started. At this time, since the object to be detected is a human body approaching from the front of the urinal provided with the water discharge control device 1, in step S502, the radio wave transmission pattern is set as “front”, and the Doppler due to the movement of the human body is set. Make it easier to receive signals. In this way, by first transmitting radio waves only in the forward direction and not transmitting radio waves in the lower direction, it is possible to eliminate the influence of noise having a frequency substantially equivalent to the movement of the human body caused by the shaking of the water-sealed portion of the urinal.

  In step S503, it is determined whether the sensor data value is greater than or equal to the set value 1. If it is determined that the sensor data value is not equal to or greater than the set value 1, the process of step S503 is repeated until a sensor data value equal to or greater than the set value 1 is detected. On the other hand, if the detection unit 15 determines that the sensor data value is greater than or equal to the set value 1, the process proceeds to step S504.

  In step S504, since a large signal is obtained, the detection unit 15 determines that a moving user has been detected, and the process proceeds to step S505.

  In step S505, the detection unit 15 analyzes the frequency and amplitude intensity of the Doppler signal, and proceeds to step S506. In the analysis of the frequency and amplitude intensity of the Doppler signal performed in step S505, a frequency analysis method using an autoregressive model, a method of obtaining a Fourier transform or a signal peak, obtaining a frequency at the interval, and obtaining a peak width by the difference, etc. Apply.

  In step S506, the amplitude intensity value of the Doppler signal is compared with the set value 2 to determine whether the amplitude intensity value of the Doppler signal is greater than the set value 2. The determination in step S506 corresponds to determination whether or not the user has approached the vicinity of the urinal 1. That is, when the amplitude intensity value of the Doppler signal is larger than the set value 2, it can be determined that the user has approached the vicinity of the urinal 1, and when the amplitude intensity value of the Doppler signal is less than the set value 2 It can be determined that the user has not approached the vicinity of the urinal 1. The set value 2 (approach reference value) is larger than the set value 1 in step S503, and is set in advance to a predetermined value as a reference value for determining the amplitude intensity that appears when a person approaches the urinal 1. Is.

  As a result of the determination in step S506, if it is determined that the amplitude intensity value of the Doppler signal is larger than the set value 2, the process proceeds to step S510, and if it is determined that it is less than the set value 2, the process proceeds to step S508.

  First, the case where the amplitude intensity value of the Doppler signal is equal to or smaller than the set value 2, that is, the case where the user is not approaching the urinal 1 will be described (NO from step S506 to step S508). In step S507, it is determined whether or not the amplitude intensity of the Doppler signal is continuously set to 1 or less. When it is determined that it is not continuously lower than the set value 1, that is, when it is determined that the user is not away from the vicinity of the urinal 1 because there is still a large value of the amplitude intensity of the Doppler signal, The process returns to step S506. On the other hand, when it is continuously set value 1 or less, that is, when the user is not sufficiently close to urinal 1, the process proceeds to step S508. In step S508, it is determined that the user has not passed through the front of the urinal 1, that is, is absent. If it is determined that the user is absent, the process proceeds to step S511, returns to the beginning, and repeats the processes after step S501.

  Next, the case where the amplitude intensity value of the Doppler signal is larger than the set value 2, that is, the case where the user is approaching the urinal 1 will be described (from YES in step S506 to step S510). In step S510, it is determined that the user is approaching the vicinity of the urinal 1, and the process proceeds to step S511. In step S511, it is determined whether or not the user has stopped near the urinal 1 from the speed of the user that can be calculated from the frequency of the Doppler signal and the amplitude intensity value of the Doppler signal, and the process proceeds to Step S512. Note that as the stillness determination in step S511, it is determined whether the amplitude intensity value of the Doppler signal is equal to or lower than the stationary reference value and the frequency is equal to or lower than a predetermined frequency threshold value.

  In step S512, if it is determined that the user is stationary in the vicinity of the urinal 1 based on the stationary determination in S511, the process proceeds to step S513, where it is determined that the user is not stationary in the vicinity of the urinal 1. If YES in step S507, the flow returns to step S507 to repeat the processing from step S507.

  In step S513, it is confirmed whether or not a so-called pre-cleaning operation is set in which the user stops in front of the urinal and allows the cleaning water to flow before the stool. Although pre-cleaning gives the user a sense of cleanliness, it is disadvantageous for saving water, so the urinal installation manager often selects and sets pre-cleaning.

In step S513, if pre-cleaning is set, the process proceeds to S515. If pre-cleaning is not set, the process proceeds to S514. In S515 where the pre-cleaning is not set, the time for the washing water to flow after the pre-cleaning is started without switching the radio wave power transmission pattern immediately is set in advance. Switch the radio wave transmission pattern to “both sides”.
Here, by using a “double-sided” transmission pattern, it is possible to capture the movement of the human body leaving without urination. The power transmission pattern is switched to “both sides” and the process proceeds to step S516. Note that transmission switching is performed by switching the power feeding unit of each power transmission unit to ground or to open.

  If the pre-cleaning is not set in step S513, the process proceeds to S514. In step S514, the radio wave transmission pattern is immediately changed to “both sides”, and the process proceeds to step S5116.

  In step S516, the movement of the human body in the vicinity of the urinal is determined. The start of the movement of the human body in the vicinity of the urinal is determined by a value close to the set value 2 of the amplitude intensity for determining that the human body has approached the urinal.

  If it is determined in step S516 that the human body has moved, the process proceeds to step S519. In step S519, the process proceeds to step S509, and the determination of whether the person leaves or approaches again is repeated.

When the movement of the human body cannot be determined in step S516, it is confirmed in step S518 whether urine is detected. Since urine moves at a speed faster than the movement of the human body, it has a higher frequency than the Doppler signal of the human body. If the amplitude intensity is larger than the dark noise and smaller than the amplitude intensity setting value 2, it can be determined that urine is detected.

  If urine cannot be detected in step S518, the process returns to step S516 to repeat the process of whether the patient has left without urination or has started urination.

  If urine is detected in step S518, completion of urination is detected in step S519. The completion of urination is determined to be urination completion when the amplitude intensity of the signal having a frequency higher than that of the human body signal, which is a urine signal, is smaller than the value determined to start urination, and the process proceeds to step S520. When urine is detected, step S518 is repeated again until urination is completed.

  In step S520, since urination is completed at this time, urine detection is not necessary, and it is only necessary to detect the movement of the human body, so that the radio wave transmission pattern can be switched to “forward” and the movement of the human body can be confirmed. To do. By doing in this way, the influence of the movement of the washing water which is poured into the urinal for the toilet flushing at the time of subsequent retreat can be reduced. After switching the transmission pattern in step S520, the process proceeds to step S521.

  In step S521, it is determined that the human body has moved out when the amplitude intensity of the Doppler signal has continued for a predetermined time or more for a certain time. If this criteria for exit is satisfied, the process proceeds to step S522, where it is determined that the user has moved away. If the criteria for exit is not satisfied, step S521 is continued to confirm the exit, while step S507 is entered. Return and check if a new human body is approaching. This is effective in detecting a new user when the vacant and the new user are switched. Here, the set value of the exit determination criterion is set to the set value 1. However, if the set value is larger than the set value 1 and smaller than the set value 2, the exit determination can be performed at an early stage, and toilet flushing after the exit determination is performed. Can be implemented early.

  If it is determined in step S522 that the human body has been removed, the process proceeds to step S523, the water discharge control device 2 discharges the water discharger 20, performs toilet flushing, and returns to step S501, which is the initial detection start, in step S524. Even if a new user appears at this time, the radio wave transmission pattern is “front”, so that the new user can be detected without being affected by the movement of the washing water.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the second embodiment. From step S501 to step S518, the same process as in the first embodiment is performed, and once urine is detected in step S518, the radio wave transmission pattern is set to “down” in step S550 so as to obtain a Doppler signal only for urine. To do. By doing in this way, the influence of the shaking of the human body during urination can be eliminated, and accurate urine detection becomes possible.

  In step S519 of the second embodiment, when the completion of urination is detected based on the above-described determination criteria, the following steps are performed in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the third embodiment. Until the confirmation of the presence or absence of pre-cleaning in step S513, the same process as that of the first embodiment is performed. This switching cycle can be determined in advance from the moving speed of the human body near the toilet and the frequency of the transmitted radio wave. For example, when the transmission radio frequency is 10 GHz, the Doppler frequency of the human body near the toilet is about 20 Hz. Is longer than 25 msec, the maximum amplitude value (corresponding to the amplitude intensity) of the Doppler signal can be measured.

  In step S552 of the third embodiment in FIG. 5, there is a pre-cleaning. In this case, as in the first embodiment, the time when the movement of the cleaning water does not affect the “downward” transmission Doppler signal is allowed to elapse. Thus, the radio wave transmission pattern is switched between “front” and “down” at regular intervals, and urine and a human body are detected in the respective radio wave directions. Here, even when the washing water is flowing, since the radio wave is transmitted “in front”, it is possible to detect the movement of the human body leaving without urinating.

  Thus, by increasing the set value 3, the reference value for determining whether or not the user has approached the urinal 100 is increased, so that it is difficult to detect external noise and people far from the toilet. be able to.

  In the third embodiment, the step of step S516 is advanced in the same process as the second embodiment.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this is an illustration for description of this invention, Comprising: It is not the meaning which limits the scope of the present invention only to this embodiment. The present invention can be implemented in various other embodiments.

1: Urinal 2: Water discharge control unit 4: Transmission radio wave pattern (radio wave intensity)
12: Transmission unit 13: Reception unit 14: Doppler signal generation unit 15: Detection unit 16: Control unit 17: Switching unit 20: Water discharge unit

Claims (3)

A water discharge control device for automatically discharging water from a water discharge unit,
At least two transmission units for transmitting a transmission wave to a detection region in which a stationary state or usage state of the user at a predetermined position is to be detected;
A receiving unit that receives a reflected wave reflected by a detection target in the detection region;
A Doppler signal generation unit that generates a Doppler signal based on the transmission wave transmitted by the transmission unit and the reflected wave received by the reception unit;
A detection unit for detecting a stationary state or a use state of the user at a predetermined position based on the Doppler signal; and
A control unit that outputs a control signal for automatically discharging water from the water discharging unit according to the detection result of the detecting unit,
The control unit includes a switching unit that switches from one transmission unit to the other transmission unit, controls the switching unit according to a detection result of the detection unit, and switches from one transmission unit to the other transmission unit. A water discharge control device characterized by that.   The water discharge control device according to claim 1, wherein switching of the transmission unit from one transmission unit to the other is repeated twice or more.   The water discharge control device according to claim 2, wherein one of the transmission units is selected according to a result of detecting the switching of the transmission unit from one transmission unit to the other two or more times.