JP2019060156A - Water section device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a water section device capable of emitting a microwave to avoid an installation position of a washing machine, and achieving sufficient detection accuracy even when a user is dislocated a little in a lateral direction by maintaining a distance between the user and an emission source of the microwave at the time of using a bowl part in a predetermined distance or more.SOLUTION: The water section device comprises: a bowl part opened on the upper side, and formed with an overflow port; a water discharge part formed with a water discharge port for discharging water to the bowl part; a wall erected to a height above the bowl part on a rear side of the bowl part; a sensor part provided on the wall for emitting a radio wave to a predetermined region, and for detecting a reflection wave of the radio wave; and a determination part for determining a state of an object to be detected on the basis of a detection result of the sensor part. The sensor part is disposed below a water discharge port, and above the overflow port. The predetermined region does not include a region below the overflow port in the bowl part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus for surrounding water such as a vanity.

  2. Description of the Related Art There has been known a vanity that automatically operates a lighting device or the like by detecting the approach of a user using a microwave sensor. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an apparatus that automatically operates electrical equipment such as lighting of a bathroom vanity when a person stands near the bathroom vanity.

Japanese Utility Model Application Publication 63-103492

  The conventional microwave sensor mounted on the vanity top radiates microwaves horizontally from the wall provided on the back side of the bowl portion to the front side. This aspect has an advantage that the approach of the user can be detected earlier because the microwave can reach farther.

  However, in the aspect (see FIG. 6) in which the present inventor radiates microwaves horizontally from the wall erected on the back side of the bowl to the front side from the wall (see FIG. 6), We found that it was easy to occur.

  More specifically, in a mode in which microwaves are emitted horizontally from the wall erected on the back side of the bowl portion to the front side, the swing of the washing machine is avoided even though the user is not approaching. It has been found that the approach of the user may be erroneously detected.

  In recent residences, it is common to install a washing machine in a washroom, so it is very useful to solve this problem.

  The present inventor first examined an aspect in which microwaves were emitted obliquely upward from the wall provided on the back side of the bowl portion (see FIG. 7). According to this, since the microwave is emitted so as to avoid the installation position (installation height) of the washing machine, it is possible to significantly suppress the occurrence of the false detection.

  However, such obliquely upward radiation causes the detection performance of the user to be insufficient in the case of a user with a short height (for example, a child).

  Next, the inventor examined an aspect in which microwaves were emitted obliquely downward from the wall provided on the back side of the bowl portion (FIG. 8). Also by this, the microwave is emitted so as to avoid the installation position of the washing machine, so it is possible to remarkably suppress the occurrence of the false detection.

  However, according to such radiation toward the obliquely lower side, microwaves are reflected by the bowl portion, so that the detection accuracy of the user is deteriorated. In particular, when water is accumulated in the bowl portion, the detection accuracy of the user becomes very poor.

  The present inventor has further studied a mode in which microwaves are emitted obliquely upward or obliquely downward from the front region of the bowl portion (see FIGS. 9A to 9C). Also by this, the microwave is emitted so as to avoid the installation position of the washing machine, so it is possible to remarkably suppress the occurrence of the false detection.

  However, due to the radiation of the microwaves from the front region of the bowl, the distance between the user of the bowl and the source of the microwaves is too close for the user to use the microwave radiation source. The user's detection accuracy is degraded if they are slightly deviated laterally (see FIG. 9C).

  The present invention has been made based on the above findings. The object of the present invention is to maintain the distance between the user of the bowl and the microwave radiation source at a predetermined distance or more while the microwave can be radiated to avoid the installation position of the washing machine. It is an object of the present invention to provide a device around water that can realize sufficient detection accuracy even if the user is slightly off the side.

  In the present invention, a bowl portion which is open at the upper side and has an overflow port, a spout portion having a spout port which discharges water to the bowl portion, and a height above the bowl portion on the rear side of the bowl portion A wall standing up to a height, a sensor provided on the wall and emitting a radio wave toward a predetermined area, and detecting a reflected wave of the radio wave, and a detection subject based on the detection result of the sensor And the sensor unit is disposed below the water discharge port and above the overflow port, and the predetermined area is in the bowl section. The apparatus according to the present invention does not include a region below the overflow port of the water flow device.

  According to the present invention, by disposing the sensor portion on the wall on the rear side of the bowl portion at a height below the spout and above the overflow, the user of the bowl portion and the sensor portion (radio It is possible to maintain the distance between the radiation source and the predetermined distance or more, and sufficient detection accuracy can be realized even when the user is slightly deviated sideways. Then, the sensor unit radiates radio waves from the sensor unit at a height below the spout port and above the overflow port toward a region not including the area below the overflow port in the bowl portion to wash In the case of a user with a short height (for example, a child), it is possible to suppress reflection of radio waves from the aircraft (or any other vibration device) and reflection of radio waves from fluctuations of the water surface accumulated in the bowl portion. However, sufficient detection accuracy can be realized.

  Preferably, the sensor unit has an antenna surface for radiating radio waves in a predetermined direction, and the antenna surface is arranged to face obliquely upward.

  According to such a configuration, radio waves can be radiated obliquely upward as a whole, and reflection of radio waves from the washing machine (or any other vibration device) or fluctuation of the water surface accumulated in the bowl portion can be obtained. While the reflection of radio waves can be suppressed more reliably, sufficient detection accuracy can be realized even in the case of a user with a short height (for example, a child).

  Further, it is preferable that the water discharge port is disposed in a positional relationship in which a virtual columnar region extending obliquely upward with the antenna surface as a bottom surface perpendicularly to the antenna surface does not overlap with the water discharge port.

  In this case, it is possible to reduce the necessity of taking into consideration the problem of interference with radio waves when selecting the spout or materials of various members (water supply passage, valve, etc.) connected to the spout.

  Alternatively, the water discharge port is disposed in a positional relationship in which a virtual columnar region extending obliquely upward and perpendicularly to the antenna surface with the antenna surface as the bottom surface overlaps with a locus of water discharged from the water discharge port. Is preferred.

  In this case, water discharged from the water discharge port can be determined as a detection target. For example, it can be determined whether or not water is being spouted from the spout.

  In addition, an operation unit for controlling the water discharge unit is provided, and the operation unit is configured such that a virtual columnar region extending obliquely upward perpendicularly to the antenna surface with the antenna surface as a bottom surface overlaps the operation unit. It is preferable to arrange in the positional relationship of not.

  In this case, it is possible to reduce the need to consider the problem of interference with radio waves in selecting the material of the operation unit or the various members (water supply passages, valves, etc.) connected to the operation unit.

  According to the present invention, by disposing the sensor portion on the wall on the rear side of the bowl portion at a height below the spout and above the overflow, the user of the bowl portion and the sensor portion (radio It is possible to maintain the distance between the radiation source and the predetermined distance or more, and sufficient detection accuracy can be realized even when the user is slightly deviated sideways. Then, the sensor unit radiates radio waves from the sensor unit at a height below the spout port and above the overflow port toward a region not including the area below the overflow port in the bowl portion to wash In the case of a user with a short height (for example, a child), it is possible to suppress reflection of radio waves from the aircraft (or any other vibration device) and reflection of radio waves from fluctuations of the water surface accumulated in the bowl portion. However, sufficient detection accuracy can be realized.

It is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of the apparatus around water according to one embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic front view of the apparatus around water of FIG. It is a schematic block diagram of the apparatus around water of FIG. FIG. 7 is a schematic front view of a water around apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic front view of the apparatus around water of FIG. It is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of the conventional water circumference apparatus. It is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of the water circumference apparatus considered in the examination process. It is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of another water circumference apparatus considered in the examination process. It is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of another water circumference apparatus considered in the examination process.

  Next, with reference to the attached drawings, a device for surrounding water according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

(Constitution)
FIG. 1 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the apparatus according to FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the apparatus according to FIG. It is a schematic block diagram.

  As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, the apparatus 1 for surrounding water according to the present embodiment is a vanity table, and has a bowl portion 10 opened at the upper side and a water outlet 22 for discharging water to the bowl portion 10. A water discharge portion, a wall 60 rising to a height above the bowl portion 10 on the rear side of the bowl portion 10, and a microwave provided toward the front side (left side in FIG. 1) obliquely upward as a whole And a sensor unit 30 for emitting (a part of the radio wave) and detecting a reflected wave of the microwave. The bowl portion 10 is provided with a general overflow port 11.

  The water outlet 22 of the present embodiment protrudes from the wall 60 onto the bowl portion 10. Further, a mirror table 50 is provided above the water discharge port 22, and an operation unit 25 for controlling the water discharge section for flow rate adjustment and temperature adjustment is provided on the front side of the mirror table 50.

  The sensor unit 30 of the present embodiment is located at a height position lower than the water discharge port 22 and higher than the overflow port 12, in an area closer to the center than the half-value angle of the microwaves (FIG. 1 and FIG. 2). 1) are arranged in such a positional relationship that they do not pass through the region below the overflow opening 12 in the bowl portion 10 (see FIG. 1).

  Moreover, as shown in FIG. 3, the apparatus 1 for surrounding water according to the present embodiment further includes an illumination device 70 that illuminates the periphery of the bowl portion 10. The lighting device 70 includes a lighting control unit 71 and a lighting device 72.

  And the discrimination | determination part 40 which discriminate | determines the user as a to-be-detected body based on the detection result of the sensor part 30 is provided, and the illumination control part 71 is automatically controlled based on the discrimination | determination result by the discrimination | determination part 40. It is supposed to be. The determination unit 40 is provided inside the wall 60 similarly to the sensor unit 30.

  More specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the sensor unit 30 according to the present embodiment includes a transmitting unit 31 that emits a microwave, a receiving unit 32 that detects a reflected wave of the microwave, and a radiation signal and a detection signal. And a difference detection unit 33 that detects a difference from (the reception signal). (However, the difference detection unit 33 may be mounted on the determination unit 40.)

  Then, as shown in FIG. 3, the determination unit 40 of the present embodiment is based on the signal reception unit 41 that receives the signal from the difference detection unit 33, and around the water of the user based on the signal state from the difference detection unit 33. User detection means 42 for detecting the state of use of the device 1;

  And based on the detection result of the user detection means 42, the illumination control part 71 is controlled automatically.

  In general, the sensor unit 30 is an antenna composed of one or more antenna elements (also called a patch antenna, sometimes serving as the transmitter 31 and the receiver 32) for radiating radio waves in a predetermined direction. It has a face 30a. In order to radiate microwaves obliquely upward as a whole, the antenna surface 30a is disposed so as to face obliquely upward.

  On the other hand, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the water discharge port 22 is a virtual columnar region C (“principal axis of radio wave”) extending obliquely upward to the antenna surface 30 a with the antenna surface 30 a as the bottom. Furthermore, the region on the center side of the half-value angle of the radiated microwaves (the region surrounded by the two-dot chain line in FIGS. 1 and 2) is generally arranged so that It is arrange | positioned by the positional relationship which shifted | deviated to the left-right direction (horizontal direction) so that the spout 22 may not be passed.

  Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the operation unit 25 for controlling the water discharger 20 for flow rate adjustment and temperature adjustment is provided, and the operation unit 25 also has the antenna surface 30a as the bottom surface. A virtual columnar region C extending obliquely upward and perpendicularly to the antenna surface 30 a is disposed in a positional relationship such that the virtual columnar region C does not overlap the operation unit 25. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the operation unit 25 has an area on the center side of the half-value angle of the radiated microwave (an area surrounded by a two-dot chain line in FIGS. 1 and 2). In order not to pass through at all 25, they are arranged in a positional relationship shifted in the left-right direction (horizontal direction).

(Action / effect)
According to the present embodiment as described above, the sensor unit 30 is disposed at the wall 60 below the water outlet 22 and above the overflow opening 12, so that the bowl unit It is possible to maintain the distance between the user and the sensor unit 30 (the microwave radiation source) when using the 10 at a predetermined distance or more, and even if the user is slightly offset laterally (see FIG. 8 (c)), sufficient detection accuracy of the user can be realized.

  Then, the sensor unit 30 radiates the microwave toward the region not including the region below the overflow opening 12 in the bowl portion 10 (see FIG. 1), so that the washing machine (or any other vibrating device) While it is possible to suppress the reflection of radio waves from) and the reflection of radio waves from fluctuations of the water surface accumulated in the bowl portion 10, but sufficient detection accuracy can be realized even in the case of a user with a short height (for example, a child) .

  In addition, since the columnar region C does not overlap with the water outlet 22 and the region on the center side of the half-value angle of the radiated microwaves does not generally pass through the water outlet 22, it is connected with the water outlet 22 or the water outlet 22 It is possible to reduce the need to consider the problem of interference with microwaves in selecting materials of various members (water supply passage, valve, etc.).

  Further, since the columnar region C does not overlap the operation unit 25 and the region on the center side of the half-value angle of the radiated microwave does not pass through the operation unit 25 at all, the operation is connected to the operation unit 25 or the operation unit 25. It is possible to reduce the need to consider the problem of interference with microwaves in selecting materials of various members (water supply passage, valve, etc.).

(Modification)
In the water discharge port 22, a virtual columnar region C extending obliquely upward with the antenna surface 30a as a bottom surface and perpendicular to the antenna surface 30a overlaps with a locus of water discharged from the water discharge port 22. It may be arranged in a relationship.

  Such an embodiment is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of a water-surrounding device 1 'according to such an embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a schematic front view of the water-surrounding device 1' of FIG.

  In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the sensor unit 30 ′ is located below the water outlet 22 when viewed from the front, and as a result, the columnar region C ′ is the water discharged from the water outlet 22. It has a positional relationship of overlapping with the trajectory.

  Other configurations of the apparatus 1 'for water surrounding shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 are substantially the same as the apparatus 1 for water surrounding described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. In FIG.4 and FIG.5, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the component similar to the water circumference apparatus 1, and the detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

  According to the apparatus for surrounding water 1 ′ shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, it is possible to determine the state of water discharged from the water discharge port 22 as a detection target. For example, it can be determined whether or not water is being spouted from the spout 22. Thus, for example, a control mode can be adopted in which the operation of the lighting device 72 is continued while water discharge is in progress (water discharge is continued).

  As mentioned above, although the form for implementing this invention was demonstrated, this invention is not limited above.

  The respective elements included in the above-described embodiments can be combined as much as technically possible, and combinations of these are included in the technical scope of the present invention as long as they include the features of the present invention.

  For example, although the water-surrounding device 1 has been described taking a vanity as an example, it may be a kitchen.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the antenna surface is a surface on which the patch antenna is disposed, but an opening of a dielectric lens or a horn antenna for controlling radio waves radiated from the antenna may be used as the antenna surface.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Water circumference system 10 bowl part 12 overflow port 22 spout 30 sensor part 30a antenna surface 31 transmission part (patch antenna)
32 Receiver (patch antenna)
33 difference detection unit 40 determination unit 41 signal reception means 42 user detection unit 50 mirror stand 60 wall 70 illumination device 71 illumination control unit 72 illumination device C virtual columnar area ("spindle of radio wave")
1 'Water around system 30' sensor part C 'virtual columnar area ("spindle of radio wave")

Claims (5)

A bowl portion which is open at the upper side and has an overflow port,
A water discharger having a water discharge port for discharging water to the bowl portion;
On the rear side of the bowl portion, a wall rising to a height above the bowl portion;
A sensor unit which is provided on the wall and emits a radio wave toward a predetermined area and detects a reflected wave of the radio wave;
A determination unit that determines the state of the detection target based on the detection result of the sensor unit;
Equipped with
The sensor unit is disposed below the water discharge port and above the overflow port,
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined area does not include an area in the bowl portion below the overflow port. The sensor unit has an antenna surface for radiating radio waves in a predetermined direction,
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the antenna surface is arranged to face obliquely upward. The water discharge port is disposed in a positional relationship in which a virtual columnar region extending diagonally upward and perpendicularly to the antenna surface with the antenna surface as a bottom surface does not overlap with the water discharge port. An apparatus for surrounding water according to Item 2. The water discharge port is disposed in a positional relationship in which a virtual columnar region extending diagonally upward and perpendicularly to the antenna surface with the antenna surface as the bottom surface overlaps with a locus of water discharged from the water discharge port. The apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that: An operation unit for controlling the water discharge unit is provided,
The operation portion is disposed in a positional relationship in which a virtual columnar region extending obliquely upward to the antenna surface with the antenna surface as a bottom surface does not overlap the operation portion. An apparatus for surrounding water according to any one of Items 2 to 4.

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