JP2019165981A - Toilet seat device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a toilet seat device having an electrostatic sensor provided to a toilet seat in which a detection range of the electrostatic sensor can be widened while suppressing erroneous detection.SOLUTION: A toilet seat device includes: a hollow toilet seat having an opening, a seat part, and an inner surface; and an electrostatic sensor having a first detection electrode provided on a seat part side of the inner surface of the toilet seat for detecting a user sitting on the toilet seat and a second detection electrode provided at a position spaced from the first detection electrode in the vertical direction, which is capacitively coupled to the first detection electrode. The first detection electrode includes a first part that overlaps with the second detection electrode and a second part provided between the first part and the opening, which does not overlap with the first part. The second part is electrically connected to the first part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  Aspects of the invention generally relate to toilet seat devices.

  It is known to provide an electrostatic sensor that detects seating of a human body inside a toilet seat of a toilet seat device (Patent Document 1). An electrostatic sensor has an electrode, and can detect a human body based on the electrostatic capacitance formed when a human body approaches an electrode.

  An electrostatic sensor cannot detect a human body when a user sits on a portion other than an electrode. For this reason, for example, when a small child is used or a person with a poor seating posture is used, the human body cannot be detected if the user sits on the toilet seat opening side with respect to the installation position of the electrostatic sensor. As means for solving this problem, for example, it is conceivable to use, as an electrode, a metal film for transmitting heat of a heater that warms the toilet seat (Patent Document 2).

JP 2008-008831 A JP-A-5-196744

  However, since such a metal film is widely provided on the entire inner surface of the toilet seat, there is a problem that a detection range is too wide and erroneous detection is likely to occur. Further, in a toilet seat in which the metal film is connected to the ground, there is a problem that the metal film cannot be used as an electrode.

  The present invention has been made based on recognition of such a problem, and in a toilet seat device having an electrostatic sensor provided on a toilet seat, the detection range of the electrostatic sensor can be widened while suppressing erroneous detection. An object is to provide a toilet seat device.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hollow toilet seat having an opening, a seating portion, and an inner surface, and a first detection for detecting a user seated on the toilet seat provided on the seating portion side of the inner surface of the toilet seat. An electrostatic sensor comprising: an electrode; and a second detection electrode provided at a position spaced vertically from the first detection electrode and capacitively coupled to the first detection electrode. The detection electrode has a first portion that overlaps the second detection electrode, and a second portion that is provided between the first portion and the opening and does not overlap the first portion, 2 part is the toilet seat apparatus characterized by being electrically connected with the said 1st part.

  According to this toilet seat device, the detection range of the electrostatic sensor can be widened by disposing a part (second part) of the first detection electrode on the opening side of the toilet seat. Thereby, it is easy to detect the seating even at the opening side of the toilet seat that is likely to be seated when used by a child or the like. On the other hand, for example, unlike the case where a metal film for transmitting the heat of the heater that warms the toilet seat is used as an electrode, it is possible to suppress the detection range from becoming too wide, and thus it is possible to suppress erroneous detection.

  According to a second invention, in the first invention, the electrostatic sensor includes a circuit unit that outputs a detection signal from the second detection electrode, a case that covers the second detection electrode and the circuit unit, The toilet seat device further includes:

  According to this toilet seat device, by providing the case, the circuit portion and the second detection electrode can be protected from corrosion due to water droplets or the like.

  According to a third invention, in the first or second invention, the toilet seat includes a side wall portion extending downward from an inner peripheral side of the seat portion, and a curved portion positioned between the seat portion and the side wall portion. And the second part is provided along the inner surface of the bending portion.

  According to this toilet seat device, by arranging a part (second part) of the first detection electrode on the inner surface of the curved portion that is easy to touch when a human body such as a child falls into the opening of the toilet seat, it is more reliable. It is possible to detect the seating of a child or the like. In addition, by disposing the second part of the first detection electrode along the inner surface of the curved portion, it is possible to suppress a decrease in detection accuracy due to a gap between the inner surface of the toilet seat and the second part. Can do.

  A fourth invention is the toilet seat device according to any one of the first to third inventions, wherein an area of the first portion is larger than an area of the second detection electrode.

  According to this toilet seat device, since the area of the first portion is larger than the area of the second detection electrode, the second detection electrode is not easily displaced from the first portion when the second detection electrode is disposed. As a result, the first portion and the second detection electrode can be capacitively coupled with each other more reliably, so that the detection accuracy can be increased.

  According to a fifth invention, in any one of the first to fourth inventions, a heater that is provided on the inner surface and heats the toilet seat from the inside, and transmits heat of the heater to the inner surface of the toilet seat. A metal film, wherein the metal film includes a first cutout portion that overlaps the first portion and the second detection electrode, a second cutout portion that overlaps the second portion, and the first cutout portion. A toilet seat device having an interposition portion located between one notch portion and the second notch portion.

  According to this toilet seat device, the toilet seat can be warmed by the heater and the metal film. Moreover, it can suppress that a metal film is notched largely by providing a part (interposition part) of a metal film between a 1st notch part and a 2nd notch part. Thereby, it can suppress that a user feels the coldness of a toilet seat.

  In a sixth aspect based on the fifth aspect, the second portion is separated from the first portion, and the first detection electrode is provided between the first portion and the second portion. A wiring portion that electrically connects the first portion and the second portion, and in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the first portion and the second portion are arranged, the width of the wiring portion is: The toilet seat device is smaller than the width of the first portion and smaller than the width of the second portion.

  According to this toilet seat device, capacitive coupling between the wiring portion and the intervening portion of the metal film overlapping therewith can be suppressed, and seating detection by the first detection electrode can be more reliably performed.

  A seventh invention is characterized in that, in the fifth or sixth invention, at least a part of the heater is disposed between the first cutout portion and the second cutout portion. It is a toilet seat device.

  According to this toilet seat device, since the space between the first notch and the second notch can be heated by the heater, the user can be further prevented from feeling the coldness of the toilet seat. .

  According to the aspect of the present invention, in the toilet seat device having the electrostatic sensor provided in the toilet seat, the toilet seat device capable of widening the detection range of the electrostatic sensor while suppressing erroneous detection is provided.

It is a top view which illustrates the toilet seat device concerning an embodiment. It is sectional drawing which illustrates the toilet seat apparatus which concerns on embodiment. FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B are a cross-sectional view and a plan view illustrating the toilet seat device according to the embodiment. FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B are diagrams illustrating the circuit configuration of the electrostatic sensor according to the embodiment.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In addition, in each drawing, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same component and detailed description is abbreviate | omitted suitably.

FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating a toilet seat device according to the embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the toilet seat device according to the embodiment.
FIG. 2 shows a cross section taken along line A1-A1 shown in FIG. FIG. 1 shows the toilet seat device 100 and a part of the interior thereof as seen along the arrow A shown in FIG.
A toilet seat device 100 according to the embodiment is a toilet seat device provided on a toilet bowl (Western-style seated toilet) (not shown). As shown in FIG. 1, the toilet seat apparatus 100 has a toilet seat 10 on which a user is seated. The toilet seat 10 is pivotally supported so as to be openable and closable with respect to the toilet. In this example, a so-called O-shaped toilet seat 10 in which a through-hole-shaped opening 11 disposed on a bowl of a toilet bowl is formed is shown. The toilet seat 10 is not limited to the O shape, and may be a U shape. The opening 11 is not limited to the through hole shape, and may be a notch shape. The material of the toilet seat 10 is a non-metallic material such as resin. For example, a resin such as polypropylene is used as the material for the toilet seat 10.

  Here, in the specification of the present application, the upper side as viewed from the user sitting on the toilet seat 10 is “upper”, and the lower side as viewed from the user sitting on the toilet seat 10 is “lower”. In addition, the front is “front”, the rear is “rear”, the right is “right”, as viewed from the user sitting on the toilet seat 10 with the back to the shaft supporting the toilet seat 10 with respect to the toilet. The left side is the “left side”.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the toilet seat 10 is hollow and has an inner surface 12. The toilet seat 10 includes a seating portion 13a on which a user is seated, a side wall portion 13b extending downward from the inner peripheral side of the seating portion 13a, and a curved portion 13c positioned between the seating portion 13a and the side wall portion 13b. . A heater 15, a metal film 17, and an electrostatic sensor 30 (a seating sensor) are provided above the inner surface 12 of the toilet seat 10 (on the seating portion 13a side). The heater 15 and the metal film 17 are provided as necessary and can be omitted.

  The heater 15 is provided on the inner surface 12 of the toilet seat 10, and heats and warms the toilet seat 10 (seat portion 13a) from the inside. The heater 15 is provided along the periphery of the opening 11 of the toilet seat 10. When the heater 15 is energized, the toilet seat 10 is warmed. As the heater 15, for example, a tubing heater, a sheathed heater, a halogen heater, a carbon heater, or the like is used. The heater 15 is made of a metal member such as aluminum or copper, for example. Various shapes such as a sheet shape, a wire shape, and a mesh shape can be adopted as the shape of the metal member of the heater 15.

  The metal film 17 is, for example, a metal foil (for example, an aluminum foil). The metal film 17 may be composed of a single metal foil or may be composed of a plurality of metal foils. A part 17 a of the metal film 17 is located between the heater 15 and the inner surface 12 and is in contact with each of the heater 15 and the inner surface 12. Another part (intervening part) 17 b of the metal film 17 is located between the heater 15 and a part of the electrostatic sensor 30 and is in contact with each of the heater 15 and a part of the electrostatic sensor 30. As a result, the metal film 17 transfers the heat of the heater 15 to the toilet seat 10 (sitting portion 13a).

  The electrostatic sensor 30 can detect the seating (and leaving) of the user on the toilet seat 10. The electrostatic sensor 30 is attached to the inner surface 12 by an adhesive body 40. In other words, the adhesive body 40 is provided between the inner surface 12 and the electrostatic sensor 30 and adheres the electrostatic sensor 30 to the inner surface 12. A part of the electrostatic sensor 30 is provided along the inner surface of the bending portion 13c.

  For the adhesive body (adhesive body 40 and adhesive bodies 41 and 42 to be described later), various materials that have adhesiveness or tackiness on at least a part of the surface and can connect two materials can be used. As the adhesive, an adhesive, a pressure-sensitive adhesive, a double-sided tape, or the like can be used. The material of the bonded body is, for example, an acrylic resin and desirably does not contain a metal.

  The electrostatic sensor 30 is provided, for example, on the front side of the toilet seat 10. The electrostatic sensor 30 is provided on the right side or the left side of the opening 11, for example. As shown in FIG. 1, in this example, the electrostatic sensor 30 is provided on the left side of the opening 11 on the front side of the toilet seat 10. At this position, the human body can easily touch the electrostatic sensor 30 regardless of whether an adult is seated or a child is seated.

  The toilet seat apparatus 100 may have a functional unit. The functional part is arranged on the rear part of the toilet bowl. The functional unit has a local cleaning function for cleaning a local part of the human body (for example, “wet”) and a drying function for drying the human body local part. That is, toilet seat device 100 may be a sanitary washing device, for example.

  The functional unit includes a nozzle that discharges cleaning water, a heat exchanger that heats water supplied to the nozzle, a warm air heater, and the like. The toilet seat apparatus 100 includes a control unit 51 (control circuit) that controls operations of the heater 15, the electrostatic sensor 30, the nozzle, the heat exchanger, the hot air heater, and the like. For example, the control unit 51 controls energization of the heater 15 or operates the electrostatic sensor 30 to receive the detection result.

  For example, in a state where the electrostatic sensor 30 detects the seating of the user, the user operates the remote controller or the like to send a signal to the control unit 51, so that the user causes the nozzle to discharge cleaning water. Can do. In the embodiment, the functional unit (nozzle, heat exchanger, hot air heater, etc.) is not necessarily provided.

FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B are a cross-sectional view and a plan view illustrating the toilet seat device according to the embodiment.
FIG. 3A is an enlarged sectional view showing the vicinity of the electrostatic sensor 30 shown in FIG. FIG. 3B is a plan view of the vicinity of the electrostatic sensor 30 as viewed from below. In FIG. 3B, some elements are omitted for easy viewing.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, the electrostatic sensor 30 includes a case 31 (protective case), a substrate 32, a first detection electrode 33a, a second detection electrode 33b, a shield electrode 34, a circuit, A portion 35, insulating films 36 a and 36 b, and a molding material 37 are included.

  The first detection electrode 33a is located between the two insulating films 36a and 36b. The first detection electrode 33 a sandwiched between the two insulating films 36 a and 36 b is bonded to the inner surface 12 via the adhesive body 40.

  The substrate 32, the second detection electrode 33 b, the shield electrode 34, and the circuit unit 35 are accommodated in the case 31 so as to be covered with the case 31. The case 31 is sealed with a molding material 37 such as resin. In addition, as the material of the case 31, for example, a resin is used. The case 31 is bonded to the insulating film 36b by an adhesive body 41.

  The second detection electrode 33 b, the shield electrode 34, and the circuit unit 35 are provided on the substrate 32. In this example, the second detection electrode 33 b and the shield electrode 34 are connected to the upper surface of the substrate 32, and the circuit unit 35 is connected to the lower surface of the substrate 32. The substrate 32 on which the second detection electrode 33 b, the shield electrode 34, and the circuit unit 35 are provided is bonded to the inside of the case 31 by an adhesive body 42.

  The first detection electrode 33 a is an electrode for detecting a user sitting on the toilet seat 10. Capacitative coupling of the first detection electrode 33a and the human body of the user seated on the toilet seat 10 can detect the user seated on the toilet seat 10.

  The first detection electrode 33a includes a first portion 38a, a second portion 38b, and a wiring portion 38c. The first portion 38a is separated from the second detection electrode 33b in the vertical direction. That is, the first portion 38a overlaps the second detection electrode 33b in the bottom view. In this example, the first portion 38a is provided between the seating portion 13a side of the inner surface 12 and the second detection electrode 33b. The second portion 38 b is provided between the first portion 38 a and the opening 11. In this example, the second portion 38b is provided at a position separated from the first portion 38a in the direction toward the opening 11. The second portion 38b may be provided so as to continue from the first portion 38a. The second portion 38b does not overlap the first portion 38a in the bottom view. The first portion 38a and the second portion 38b are electrically connected. In this example, the first portion 38a and the second portion 38b are electrically connected by the wiring portion 38c provided between the first portion 38a and the second portion 38b. The wiring portion 38c extends to the left from the left end of the second portion 38b toward the right end of the first portion 38a.

  In this example, the first portion 38a is provided between the seating portion 13a side of the inner surface 12 and the second sensing electrode 33b, but the second sensing electrode 33b is seated on the inner surface 12. It may be provided between the 13a side and the first portion 38a. In other words, the first portion 38a may be provided at a position spaced downward from the second detection electrode 33b. In this case, for example, the second portion 38b provided on the inner surface 12 and the first portion 38a provided below the second detection electrode 33b are electrically connected by the wiring portion 38c. For example, the wiring portion 38c may extend obliquely downward to the left from the left end of the second portion 38b toward the right end of the first portion 38a. Alternatively, the wiring portion 38c extends, for example, from the left end of the second portion 38b to the right end of the case 31, and extends downward from the right end of the case 31 to the right end of the first portion 38a along the side wall of the case 31. May extend.

  The insulating films 36a and 36b are provided above and below the first detection electrode 33a, respectively. The insulating film 36a is located between the adhesive 40 and the first detection electrode 33a, and insulates the surface on the upper side (the seating portion 13a side) of the first detection electrode 33a. The insulating film 36b is located between the adhesive body 41 and the first detection electrode 33a, and insulates the surface on the lower side (intervening portion 17b side) of the first detection electrode 33a.

  The first detection electrode 33a and the insulating films 36a and 36b are preferably bendable, for example. The first detection electrode 33a sandwiched between the two insulating films 36a and 36b is, for example, a flexible substrate. In this case, for example, a cover layer of the flexible substrate and a base material layer such as polyimide correspond to the insulating films 36a and 36b, respectively, and a metal layer such as a copper foil provided therebetween corresponds to the first detection electrode 33a. . If the first detection electrode 33a and the insulating films 36a and 36b can be bent, for example, the second portion 38b of the first detection electrode 33a can be provided along the inner surface of the bending portion 13c of the toilet seat 10. The first detection electrode 33a is not limited to this, and may be a metal foil having conductivity. The insulating films 36a and 36b are not limited to this, and any insulating material such as a resin may be used.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, the first portion 38a and the second portion 38b have a substantially rectangular shape (for example, a substantially square shape) in the bottom view. The wiring portion 38c has a substantially rectangular shape that is long in the direction from the first portion 38a toward the opening 11 in the bottom view. In the direction perpendicular to the direction in which the first portion 38a and the second portion 38b are arranged, the width W3 of the wiring portion 38c is smaller than the width W1 of the first portion 38a. The width W3 of the wiring portion 38c is smaller than the width W2 of the second portion 38b. In this example, the width W1 of the first portion 38a is larger than the width W2 of the second portion 38b. The area of the first portion 38a is larger than the area of the second portion 38b. The area of the first portion 38a is larger than the area of the second detection electrode 33b.

  The second detection electrode 33b is an electrode for capacitively coupling with the first detection electrode 33a and receiving a detection signal from the first portion 38a of the first detection electrode 33a. The second detection electrode 33b is provided at a position spaced in the vertical direction from the first portion 38a of the first detection electrode 33a. In this example, the second detection electrode 33b is provided at a position spaced downward from the first portion 38a of the first detection electrode 33a. The second detection electrode 33 b is electrically connected to the circuit unit 35 and transmits the detection signal received from the first portion 38 a of the first detection electrode 33 a to the circuit unit 35.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, the shield electrode 34 is an electrode surrounding the second detection electrode 33b. Even when the first cutout portion 18a is made small by the shield electrode 34, it is possible to prevent the detection accuracy of the electrostatic sensor 30 from being lowered.

  The circuit unit 35 includes a constant current circuit, a switching circuit, and the like, and is electrically connected to the second detection electrode 33b. The circuit unit 35 determines whether the user is seated or unseated with a change in the potential of the second detection electrode 33b. The circuit unit 35 is electrically connected to the control unit 51 and transmits (outputs) the detection result to the control unit 51.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3B, the metal film 17 has a first notch portion 18 a and a second notch portion 18 b in the vicinity of the electrostatic sensor 30. The first cutout portion 18a overlaps the first portion 38a and the second detection electrode 33b in the bottom view. In other words, the first cutout portion 18a is a portion in which the metal film 17 is cut out at a position where the first portion 38a and the second detection electrode 33b are provided. The second cutout portion 18b overlaps the second portion 38b in the bottom view. In other words, the second notch portion 18b is a portion where the metal film 17 is notched at the position where the second portion 38b is provided.

  In the present specification, the “notch” refers to a portion where the metal film 17 is not formed. For example, the first cutout portion 18 a and the second cutout portion 18 b are openings (holes) or cuts provided in the metal film 17. A method for forming the first cutout portion 18a and the second cutout portion 18b is arbitrary, and the formation is not necessarily performed by cutting out (cutting out) the metal film 17.

  The first notch 18a is separated from the second notch 18b. That is, the interposition part 17b is provided between the 1st notch part 18a and the 2nd notch part 18b. The interposition part 17 b is a part of the metal film 17. The interposition part 17b is located below the wiring part 38c of the first detection electrode 33a. The interposition part 17b overlaps with the wiring part 38c in the bottom view. Moreover, in this example, the heater 15 is provided under the interposition part 17b. In other words, at least a part of the heater 15 is disposed between the first notch 18a and the second notch 18b. Thus, the space between the first notch 18a and the second notch 18b can be heated.

  The shapes of the first cutout portion 18a and the second cutout portion 18b are arbitrary, but for example, shapes matching the first portion 38a and the second portion 38b of the first detection electrode 33a are desirable, respectively. In this example, the shapes of the first cutout portion 18a and the second cutout portion 18b are rectangular according to the rectangular first portion 38a and the second portion 38b. Thereby, it is suppressed that the 1st notch part 18a and the 2nd notch part 18b become large.

FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B are diagrams illustrating the circuit configuration of the electrostatic sensor according to the embodiment.
An example of the circuit configuration of the electrostatic sensor 30 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b).
FIG. 4A shows a case where the user is not sitting on the toilet seat 10, and FIG. 4B shows a case where the user is sitting on the toilet seat 10.

  The electrostatic sensor 30 includes, for example, a constant current source 35a and a reference capacitor 35b. One end of the reference capacitor 35b is connected to the constant current source 35a, and the other end of the reference capacitor 35b is connected to the ground potential. The second detection electrode 33b is connected to the constant current source 35a in parallel with the reference capacitor 35b. The first portion 38a of the first detection electrode 33a is capacitively coupled to the second detection electrode 33b. The first portion 38a and the second portion 38b of the first detection electrode 33a are electrically connected via the wiring portion 38c.

  When the user is not sitting on the toilet seat 10, as shown in FIG. 4A, the second portion 38b of the first detection electrode 33a is in an open state, for example.

  When the user sits on the toilet seat 10, immediately above the electrostatic sensor 30, the user's thigh, for example, contacts the seating portion 13a. For example, when the seating of the user is detected by the second portion 38b of the first detection electrode 33a, as shown in FIG. 4B, the human body (user) and the second portion of the first detection electrode 33a. A capacitor 61 is formed between the capacitor 38b and the capacitor 38b. The human body side of the capacitor 61 is connected to the ground potential via a capacitor 62 (capacity of the human body) and a capacitor 63 (capacity of the footwear of the user). In addition, the human body side of the capacitor 61 is connected to a ground potential via a capacitor 64 (capacity of a toilet seat or a toilet bowl). The capacitor 64 is in parallel with the capacitors 62 and 63. On the other hand, the second detection electrode 33b and the first portion 38a of the first detection electrode 33a are capacitively coupled, and a capacitor 60 is formed between them. The shield electrode 34 and the metal film 17 are each connected to the ground potential. The metal film 17 may not be connected to the installation potential.

  The electrostatic sensor 30 can also detect the seating of the user by both the first portion 38a and the second portion 38b of the first detection electrode 33a. In this case, a capacitor is formed between the human body (user) and the second portion 38b of the first detection electrode 33a, and between the human body (user) and the first portion 38a of the first detection electrode 33a. A capacitor is formed between them.

  The constant current source 35a allows current to flow, and charges are accumulated in the reference capacitor 35b and the second detection electrode 33b (capacitor 60). At this time, the voltage generated in the reference capacitor 35b varies depending on whether or not the user is seated. By measuring the voltage of the reference capacitor 35b, it is possible to detect the seating or leaving of the user.

  Thus, the electrostatic sensor 30 utilizes the electrostatic capacitance formed between the user seated on the toilet seat 10 and the first portion 38a and / or the second portion 38b of the first detection electrode 33a, The user's seating is detected based on the amount of electric charge accumulated in the second detection electrode 33b.

  As described above, in the embodiment, a part (second portion 38b) of the first detection electrode 33a is disposed on the opening 11 side of the toilet seat 10. Thereby, it is possible to detect the seating not only in the first portion 38a of the first detection electrode 33a but also in the second portion 38b. That is, the detection range of the electrostatic sensor 30 can be widened. Thereby, it is easy to detect the seating on the opening 11 side of the toilet seat 10 which is likely to be seated when used by a child or the like. On the other hand, for example, unlike the case where the metal film 17 for transmitting the heat of the heater 15 that warms the toilet seat 10 is used as an electrode, it is possible to suppress the detection range from becoming too wide, thereby suppressing erroneous detection. it can.

  In the embodiment, the electrostatic sensor 30 is provided with a case 31 that covers the second detection electrode 33 b and the circuit unit 35. Thereby, the circuit part 35 and the 2nd detection electrode 33b can be protected from corrosion by a water drop etc.

  In the embodiment, a part (second portion 38 b) of the first detection electrode 33 a is arranged on the curved portion 13 c of the toilet seat 10 that is easy to touch when a human body such as a child falls into the opening 11 of the toilet seat 10. . Thereby, the seating of a child or the like can be detected more reliably. In the embodiment, the second portion 38b of the first detection electrode 33a is made of a bendable material, and the second portion 38b is disposed along the inner surface of the bending portion 13c. Thereby, it is possible to suppress a decrease in detection accuracy due to a gap between the inner surface of the bending portion 13c and the second portion 38b.

  In addition, when the second detection electrode 33b of the electrostatic sensor 30 is attached, if the second detection electrode 33b is displaced from the position where the first portion 38a of the first detection electrode 33a is attached, capacitive coupling is unlikely to occur and detection is performed. Accuracy may be reduced. On the other hand, in the embodiment, the area of the first portion 38a is made larger than the area of the second detection electrode 33b. Accordingly, when the second detection electrode 33b is disposed, the second detection electrode 33b is not easily displaced from the position where the first portion 38a of the first detection electrode 33a is attached. Therefore, the first portion 38a of the first detection electrode 33a and the second detection electrode 33b can be capacitively coupled more reliably, and the detection accuracy can be increased.

  In the embodiment, the toilet seat 10 can be warmed by providing the heater 15 and the metal film 17 on the inner surface 12 of the toilet seat 10. On the other hand, if the metal film 17 exists between the first detection electrode 33a and the inner surface 12, it cannot be detected. Therefore, in the embodiment, in the metal film 17, the first notch portion 18a is provided at a position corresponding to the first portion 38a of the first detection electrode 33a, and the second portion 38b of the first detection electrode 33a is provided. A second notch 18b is provided at the corresponding position. Thereby, the fall of the detection precision by the metal film 17 can be suppressed, and the seating detection by the 1st detection electrode 33a can be performed more reliably.

  Further, for example, when the first cutout portion 18a and the second cutout portion 18b are connected to each other, the toilet seat 10 is likely to be cold because the metal film 17 that conducts the heat of the heater 15 is greatly cut out. . On the other hand, in the embodiment, a part (intervening portion) 17b of the metal film 17 is disposed between the first cutout portion 18a and the second cutout portion 18b. Thereby, it can suppress that the metal film 17 is notched largely and can suppress that the toilet seat 10 becomes cold.

  On the other hand, since the interposition part 17b is located under the wiring part 38c of the first detection electrode 33a, the wiring part 38c and the interposition part 17b may be capacitively coupled, and the detection accuracy may be reduced. On the other hand, in the embodiment, the width W3 in the direction along the opening 11 of the wiring portion 38c is made smaller than the width W1 and the width W2 in the direction along the opening 11 of the first portion 38a and the second portion 38b. As a result, capacitive coupling between the wiring portion 38c and the interposition portion 17b can be suppressed, and seating detection by the first detection electrode 33a can be more reliably performed.

  Further, in the toilet seat 10 where the first cutout portion 18a and the second cutout portion 18b are provided, the heat from the heater 15 is not easily transmitted because the metal film 17 is not provided. Therefore, the temperature of the part tends to be lower than the temperature of the part covered with the metal film 17. Further, in order to accurately detect the user's seating, the electrostatic sensor 30 is disposed at a position where the user's skin (such as the thigh) is easily touched. For this reason, in the part in which the 1st notch part 18a and the 2nd notch part 18b were provided, a user tends to feel the coldness of the toilet seat 10. FIG. On the other hand, in the embodiment, the heater 15 is disposed between the first cutout portion 18a and the second cutout portion 18b. Thereby, since it can heat with the heater 15 between the 1st notch part 18a and the 2nd notch part 18b, it can suppress that a user feels cold.

The embodiment of the present invention has been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to these descriptions. As long as the features of the present invention are provided, those skilled in the art to which the design has been changed as appropriate are included in the scope of the present invention. For example, the shape, dimensions, material, arrangement, installation form, and the like of each element included in the toilet seat device are not limited to those illustrated, but can be changed as appropriate.
Moreover, each element with which each embodiment mentioned above is provided can be combined as long as technically possible, and the combination of these is also included in the scope of the present invention as long as it includes the features of the present invention.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Toilet seat, 11 Opening part, 12 Inner surface, 13a Seating part, 13b Side wall part, 13c Bending part, 15 Heater, 17 Metal film, 17a Part, 17b Interposition part, 18a, 18b 1st, 2nd notch , 30 electrostatic sensor, 31 case, 32 substrate, 33a, 33b first and second detection electrodes, 34 shield electrode, 35 circuit unit, 35a constant current source, 35b reference capacitor, 36a, 36b insulating film, 37 molding material 38a, 38b 1st, 2nd part, 38c wiring part, 40-42 adhesive body, 51 control part, 60-64 capacitor, 100 toilet seat device, W1-W3 width

Claims (7)

A hollow toilet seat having an opening, a seat and an inner surface;
A first detection electrode provided on the seating portion side of the inner surface of the toilet seat for detecting a user seated on the toilet seat; and a first detection electrode provided at a position spaced vertically from the first detection electrode. An electrostatic sensor having a second sensing electrode capacitively coupled to the other sensing electrode;
With
The first sensing electrode is
A first portion overlapping the second sensing electrode;
A second portion that is provided between the first portion and the opening and does not overlap the first portion;
Have
The toilet seat device, wherein the second part is electrically connected to the first part.   2. The electrostatic sensor further includes a circuit unit that outputs a detection signal from the second detection electrode, and a case that covers the second detection electrode and the circuit unit. Toilet seat device. The toilet seat includes a side wall portion extending downward from an inner peripheral side of the seat portion, and a curved portion positioned between the seat portion and the side wall portion,
The toilet seat device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second portion is provided along an inner surface of the curved portion.   The toilet seat device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein an area of the first portion is larger than an area of the second detection electrode. A heater provided on the inner surface for heating the toilet seat from the inside;
A metal film that transfers heat of the heater to the inner surface of the toilet seat;
Further comprising
The metal film includes a first cutout portion that overlaps the first portion and the second detection electrode, a second cutout portion that overlaps the second portion, the first cutout portion, and the first cutout portion. An intervening portion located between the two notches,
The toilet seat device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the toilet seat device is provided. The second part is spaced apart from the first part;
The first sensing electrode is provided between the first part and the second part, and has a wiring part that electrically connects the first part and the second part,
The width of the wiring portion is smaller than the width of the first portion and smaller than the width of the second portion in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the first portion and the second portion are arranged. The toilet seat device according to claim 5.   The toilet seat device according to claim 5 or 6, wherein at least a part of the heater is disposed between the first cutout portion and the second cutout portion.

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