JP2020141945A - Toilet seat device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a heating toilet seat in which comfort and power saving are favorably balanced.SOLUTION: A toilet seat device selects and executes any of a plurality of modes including: a normal mode for controlling a heater so that a toilet seat is heated on the basis of a setting temperature set by a user; and a detection raising temperature mode for controlling the heater or turning off the heater, taking as a standby temperature, a temperature lower than the setting temperature when no user is detected by a user detection sensor, and controlling the heater so that the toilet seat's temperature is raised on the basis of the setting temperature when a user is detected by the user detection sensor.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

The present invention relates to a toilet seat device.

Conventionally, as this type of toilet seat device, a heater that heats the toilet seat, the operating time of the heater is detected, the frequency of use for each time zone is counted, and the set temperature is set for each time zone according to the frequency of use for each time zone. , A device that controls the calorific value of the heater based on the set temperature has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this toilet seat device, it is said that energy waste can be suppressed and economic efficiency can be improved by setting a temperature lower than usual in a time zone when the frequency of use is low.

In addition, the heater that heats the seating surface of the toilet seat, the space detection sensor, and the space detection sensor control the heater so that it reaches the standby temperature when it is not detected that the user has entered the toilet room. It has also been proposed to control the heater so that the temperature of the toilet seat becomes a set temperature higher than the standby temperature when the space detection sensor detects that the user has entered the toilet room (for example,). See Patent Document 2). According to the toilet seat device, the standby temperature can be lowered to reduce power consumption, and the user can be prevented from giving discomfort when seated.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 60-173232 JP-A-2018-15207

The toilet seat device described in Patent Document 1 can suppress power consumption during a time period when the frequency of use is low, but when the user sits on the toilet seat during that time period, the toilet seat is not warmed and is not suitable for the user. It gives a pleasant feeling. On the other hand, in the toilet seat device described in Patent Document 2, the toilet seat device is usually kept on standby at a standby temperature, and when a user is detected, the temperature of the toilet seat is raised from the standby temperature to a set temperature, which causes discomfort to the user. It is possible to suppress the power consumption during standby while not giving it. However, the time from when the user enters the toilet room to when he / she actually sits on the toilet seat varies, and if the user who enters the toilet room sits earlier than expected, the toilet seat is not warm enough. Therefore, it may cause discomfort to the user.

A main object of the toilet seat device of the present invention is to provide a toilet seat device capable of satisfactorily balancing comfort and power saving in a heated toilet seat.

The toilet seat device of the present invention has adopted the following means in order to achieve the above-mentioned main object.

The first toilet seat device of the present invention is
A toilet seat device that has a toilet seat
A heating device that heats the toilet seat and
A user detection sensor that detects the user and a user detection sensor
The normal mode in which the heating device is controlled so that the toilet seat is heated based on the set temperature set by the user, and the temperature lower than the set temperature when the user is not detected by the user detection sensor. The heating device is controlled with the temperature as the standby temperature, or the heating device is controlled so that the toilet seat is heated based on the set temperature when the user is detected by the user detection sensor with the heating device turned off. A control device that selects and executes one of a plurality of modes including a detection temperature rise mode and
The gist is to prepare.

In the first toilet seat device of the present invention, the user is not detected by the normal mode in which the heating device is controlled so that the toilet seat is heated based on the set temperature set by the user, and the user detection sensor. When the heating device is controlled or the heating device is turned off with a temperature lower than the set temperature as the standby temperature, the heating device is set so that the temperature of the toilet seat rises based on the set temperature when the user is detected by the user detection sensor. Select and execute one of a plurality of modes including the detection temperature rise mode to be controlled. In the normal mode, since the heating device is controlled based on the set temperature, it is easy to ensure comfort, but there is a possibility that wasteful power consumption may occur during a time when it is not used much. On the other hand, in the detection temperature rise mode, the heating device is controlled based on the standby temperature lower than the set temperature when the user is not detected, so that it is easy to secure power saving, but in the toilet room. If the user who enters the room sits on the toilet seat earlier than expected, the temperature rise to the set temperature may not be in time and comfort may be impaired. Therefore, comfort and power saving can be well balanced by selecting and executing the normal mode and the detection temperature rise mode as necessary.

In such a first toilet seat device of the present invention, the control device learns the frequency of use of the toilet seat in advance for each time zone, selects the normal mode in the time zone when the frequency of use of the toilet seat is equal to or higher than a predetermined frequency, and the above-mentioned The detected temperature rise mode may be selected in a time zone in which the frequency of use of the toilet seat is less than the predetermined frequency. That is, the normal mode is selected with priority given to the comfort of the user in the frequently used time zone, and the detected temperature raising mode is selected with priority given to power saving in the time zone when it is not used frequently. As a result, the comfort of the user and the power saving can be better balanced.

In the first toilet seat device of the present invention of this aspect, the control device is high when the frequency of use of the toilet seat is low in a time zone when the frequency of use of the toilet seat is less than the predetermined frequency as the detection temperature raising mode. The heating device may be controlled by lowering the standby temperature as compared with the case. In this way, in the detection temperature rise mode, it is possible to further improve the power saving while ensuring a certain degree of comfort.

The second toilet seat device of the present invention is
A heating device that heats the toilet seat and
A user detection sensor that detects the user and a user detection sensor
The heating device is controlled so that the frequency of use of the toilet seat is learned in advance for each time zone and the toilet seat is heated based on a set temperature set by the user in a time zone in which the frequency of use of the toilet seat is equal to or higher than a predetermined frequency. A learning mode in which the heating device is controlled or the heating device is turned off so that the toilet seat is heated based on a temperature lower than the set temperature in a time zone in which the frequency of use of the toilet seat is less than the predetermined frequency, and the above. When the user is not detected by the user detection sensor, the heating device is controlled with a temperature lower than the set temperature as the standby temperature, or the heating device is turned off and the user is detected by the user detection sensor. A control device that selects and executes one of a plurality of modes including a detection temperature rise mode that controls the heating device so that the toilet seat rises based on the set temperature.
The gist is to prepare.

In the second toilet seat device of the present invention, the frequency of use of the toilet seat is learned in advance for each time zone, and the toilet seat is heated based on the set temperature set by the user in the time zone when the frequency of use of the toilet seat is equal to or higher than a predetermined frequency. A learning mode that controls the heating device so that the toilet seat is heated based on a temperature lower than the set temperature during a time period when the toilet seat is used less frequently, and a detection temperature raising mode. Select and execute one of multiple modes including. In the learning mode, the heating device is controlled based on the set temperature during the frequently used time, and the heating device is controlled or turned off based on the temperature lower than the set temperature during the less used time. Therefore, while it is easy to ensure comfort immediately after sitting, the shorter the time zone when it is not used much, the lower the power saving property. On the other hand, in the detection temperature rise mode, the heating device is controlled based on a temperature lower than the set temperature (standby temperature) when the user is not detected, and based on the set temperature when the user is detected. Since the heating device is controlled so that the temperature is raised, the temperature may not be raised in time immediately after sitting, which may impair comfort. On the other hand, if the temperature is not used so many times, the time zone when it is not used often is short. However, it is possible to suppress a decrease in power saving. Therefore, it is possible to balance comfort and power saving by appropriately selecting and executing the learning mode and the detection temperature raising mode.

In such a second toilet seat device of the present invention, the control device predicts the mode in which the power consumption or the electricity charge is reduced in a certain period of the learning mode and the detected temperature raising mode, and the predicted mode. May be selected. As a result, it is possible to further improve power saving and reduce electricity charges while ensuring a certain degree of comfort.

Further, in the first or second toilet seat device of the present invention in which the frequency of use of the toilet seat for each time zone is learned, the control device uses the toilet seat when the set temperature is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature. The heating device may be controlled so that the toilet seat is heated based on a temperature higher than the set temperature in a time zone equal to or higher than the second predetermined frequency higher than the predetermined frequency. In this way, even when the user himself / herself lowers the set temperature, it is possible to prevent the user from being significantly uncomfortable during the time when the frequency of use is particularly high.

The third toilet seat device of the present invention is
A toilet seat device that has a toilet seat
A heating device that heats the toilet seat and
A user detection sensor that detects the user and a user detection sensor
The heating device is controlled with a temperature lower than the set temperature set by the user as the standby temperature, and the heating device is controlled so that the temperature of the toilet seat rises when the user is detected by the user detection sensor. Control device and
With
The control device learns in advance the frequency of use of the toilet seat for each time zone, and controls the heating device by setting a lower temperature as the standby temperature when the frequency of use of the toilet seat is higher than when it is low. ,
The gist is that.

It is an external perspective view which shows the appearance of the toilet seat device 10 as the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the outline of the structure of the toilet seat heater 20 and the control device 30. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the use frequency learning process executed by the control device 30. It is a flowchart which shows the toilet seat heating control processing of 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of a normal mode processing. It is a flowchart which shows an example of quick warming mode processing. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the map for setting a standby temperature. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state of time change of the target temperature for every outside air temperature when the set temperature is a high setting. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state of time change of the target temperature for every outside air temperature when the set temperature is a medium setting. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state of time change of the target temperature for every outside air temperature when the set temperature is a low setting. It is a flowchart which shows the toilet seat heating control process of 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of learning mode processing. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the map for setting a target temperature at a low frequency. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state of the time change of the target temperature for every outside air temperature in the quick warming mode of a modification.

A mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing the appearance of the toilet seat device 10 as the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of the configuration of the toilet seat heater 20 and the control device 30. The toilet seat device 10 is attached to the upper surface of the toilet bowl 1 as shown in FIG. The toilet seat device 10 includes a toilet seat device main body 12, a toilet seat 14 that is openable and closable to the toilet seat device main body 12, a toilet seat heater 20 provided on the back side of the seating surface 14a of the toilet seat 14, and a toilet seat device main body 12. A toilet lid 16 is provided so as to be openable and closable and to cover the toilet seat 14 when fully closed, and a remote control device (hereinafter, remote controller) 18 capable of various operations by the user.

As shown in FIG. 2, the toilet seat device main body 12 includes a control device 30 that controls each part of the toilet seat device main body 12, a toilet seat temperature sensor 22 that detects the temperature of the toilet seat 14 (near the seating surface 14a), and a toilet bowl 1. An infrared type entry detection sensor 24 that detects the user's entry into the arranged toilet room, an infrared type seating detection sensor 26 that detects the user's seating on the seating surface 14a of the toilet seat 14, and an outside temperature Ta. The outside temperature sensor 28 for detecting the above is provided. Although not shown, the toilet seat device main body 12 also includes an injection nozzle for injecting cleaning water for cleaning a local part of the human body, a hot water heater for heating the cleaning water supplied to the injection nozzle, and the like.

The remote control 18 includes, for example, a butt washing switch for instructing the start of butt washing, a bidet washing switch for instructing the start of bidet washing, a stop switch for instructing the stop of each washing, and a water force setting switch for setting the hydration of washing water. It is equipped with a cleaning position setting switch for setting the cleaning position, a water temperature setting switch for setting the temperature of the cleaning water, a large cleaning switch and a small cleaning switch for instructing cleaning in the toilet bowl 1. The remote controller 18 also includes a toilet seat temperature setting switch 18a that sets the temperature (set temperature Ts) of the seating surface 14a of the toilet seat 14. In the present embodiment, the set temperature Ts is set to one of off (heating off), low setting (low temperature), medium setting (medium temperature), and high setting (high temperature) by the toilet seat temperature setting switch 18a. It is done by.

The toilet seat heater 20 is configured as an instant heating type heater capable of heating the toilet seat 14 to a set temperature Ts set by the remote controller 18 in a predetermined short time (several seconds to a dozen seconds), and is configured as an instantaneous heating type heater of several hundred W such as 300 to 800 W. Has a rated output of about.

The control device 30 is configured as a microprocessor centered on the CPU 32, and in addition to the CPU 32, includes a ROM 34 for storing a processing program, a RAM 36 for temporarily storing data, an RTC (Real Time Clock) 38 for measuring time, and the like. Be prepared. The control device 30 has an operation signal from the remote control 18, a detection signal from the toilet seat temperature sensor 22 (toilet seat temperature), a detection signal from the entry detection sensor 24 (entrance signal), and a detection signal from the seating detection sensor 26 (seating signal). ) Etc. are entered. Further, the control device 30 outputs a control signal to the injection nozzle, a control signal to the toilet seat heater 20, a control signal to the hot water heater, and the like.

Next, the operation of the toilet seat device 10 configured in this way, particularly the operation when the toilet seat 14 is heated by the toilet seat heater 20 (toilet seat heating control) will be described. In the toilet seat heating control, in the present embodiment, the control mode has a normal mode and a quick warming mode. Here, in the normal mode, basically, the toilet seat heater is set so that the set temperature Ts set by the toilet seat temperature setting switch 18a is set to the target temperature T * and the toilet seat 14 is heated at the set target temperature T *. This is a mode for controlling 20. Further, in the quick warming mode, the target temperature Tw is set to a standby temperature Tw lower than the set temperature Ts set by the toilet seat temperature setting switch 18a when the user's entry into the toilet room is not detected by the entry detection sensor 24. The toilet seat heater 20 is controlled so that the toilet seat 14 is heated at the set target temperature T *, and when the entry detection sensor 24 detects that the user has entered the toilet room, the set temperature Ts is targeted. In this mode, the toilet seat heater 20 is controlled so that the toilet seat 14 is heated at the set target temperature T * while setting the temperature T *. In the present embodiment, the normal mode and the quick warming mode are selected for each time zone based on the usage frequency F of the toilet for each time zone. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the usage frequency learning process executed by the control device 30, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the toilet seat heating control process. Here, the usage frequency learning process is repeatedly executed when the power is turned on or every predetermined period (for example, every 1 day, 3 days, or 1 week). Further, the toilet seat heating control process is repeatedly executed every predetermined time (for example, every several msec or several tens of msec). First, the usage frequency learning process will be described, and then the toilet seat heating control process will be described.

In the usage frequency learning process, the CPU 32 of the control device 30 first waits for the user to detect the change from sitting to unseat (or the change from sitting to sitting) of the toilet seat 14 by the seat detection sensor 26. (Step S100). When the change from seating to unseat of the toilet seat 14 is detected, the current time t from the RTC 38 is input (step S110), and the number of times of use in the time zone to which the input current time t belongs is inked by a value of 1. Update (step S120). Here, the time zone to which the current time t belongs is a day divided by a predetermined time (for example, 1 hour or 2 hours). Then, it is determined whether or not a predetermined predetermined period has elapsed since the start of this process (step S130). Here, the predetermined period is a learning period for learning the frequency of use of the toilet, and can be set to, for example, one day, three days, or one week. If it is determined that the predetermined period has not elapsed, the process returns to step S100. On the other hand, if it is determined that the predetermined period has elapsed, the usage frequency F for each time zone is set based on the number of times of use for each time zone (step S140), registered in the predetermined area of the RAM 36 (step S150), and then registered. This process ends. Here, in the present embodiment, the frequency of use F is set to be low frequency (for example, 0 times used, that is, unused), medium frequency (for example, 1 to 2 times used), and high frequency (for example, 1 to 2 times used). It is performed by determining whether the number of times of use is 3 to 5 times) or the frequency of use is high (for example, the number of times of use is 6 times or more). In this embodiment, the low frequency is not used, but depending on the length of the unit time zone, a very small number of times such as once may be included.

In the toilet seat heating control process, the CPU 32 of the control device 30 first inputs the current time t from the RTC 38 (step S200). Then, the usage frequency F of the time zone to which the input current time t belongs is read from the RAM 36 (step S210), and it is determined whether or not the read usage frequency F is high frequency or high frequency (predetermined frequency or more) ( Step S220). If it is determined that the usage frequency F of the current time zone is high frequency or high frequency, the normal mode is selected as the mode to be executed at the current time t (step S230), this process is terminated, and the current time zone is reached. If it is determined that the frequency of use F is medium or low (less than a predetermined frequency), the quick warming mode is selected as the mode to be executed at the current time t (step S240), and this process is terminated. Here, the normal mode is executed by the normal mode processing illustrated in FIG. 5, and the quick warming mode is executed by the quick warming mode processing illustrated in FIG.

In the normal mode processing, the CPU 32 first inputs the set temperature Ts from the toilet seat temperature setting switch 18a and the current time t from the RTC 38 (step S300), and determines whether or not the input set temperature Ts is set low. (Step S310). When it is determined that the set temperature Ts is low, the usage frequency F of the time zone to which the input current time t belongs is read from the RAM 36 (step S320), and it is determined whether or not the read usage frequency F is high or high. (Step S330). Even if it is determined in step S310 that the set temperature Ts is not a low setting but is a medium setting or a high setting, or if it is determined in step S310 that the set temperature Ts is a low setting, the frequency of use F is high and high in step S330. If it is determined that the frequency is high, the set temperature Ts is set to the target temperature T * (step S340). On the other hand, if it is determined in step S310 that the set temperature Ts is low and the frequency of use F is high and high in step S330, the target temperature T * is set by adding the predetermined temperature ΔT to the set temperature Ts ( Step S350). When the target temperature T * is set in this way, the toilet seat heater 20 is controlled so that the toilet seat 14 is heated at the set target temperature T * (step S360), and this process ends. To control the toilet seat heater 20, a control signal (duty) is generated by feedback control so that the toilet seat temperature detected by the toilet seat temperature sensor 22 becomes the target temperature T *, and the energization of the toilet seat heater 20 is controlled by the generated signal. Do it by doing. In the present embodiment, as described above, in the normal mode, the target temperature T * is basically set to the set temperature Ts set by the user, but the set temperature Ts is set low and the frequency of use F is high. When the frequency is high and high, the target temperature T * is exceptionally set to a temperature higher than the set temperature Ts. This is to prevent the user from being significantly uncomfortable in the time zone when the frequency of use F is particularly high, even when the set temperature Ts is set low by the user himself / herself.

In the quick warming mode processing, the CPU 32 first inputs the set temperature Ts from the toilet seat temperature setting switch 18a, the outside air temperature Ta from the outside air temperature sensor 28, and the current time t from the RTC 38 (step S400), and the room entry detection sensor 24 It is determined whether or not the user has been detected to enter the toilet room (step S410). When it is determined that the entry is not detected, the usage frequency F of the time zone to which the input current time t belongs is read from the RAM 36 (step S420), the input set temperature Ts, the input outside air temperature Ta, and the read usage frequency F are combined. The standby temperature Tw is set based on (step S430). Here, in the present embodiment, the standby temperature Tw is set by obtaining the relationship between the set temperature Ts, the outside air temperature Ta, the frequency of use F, and the standby temperature Tw in advance and storing it in the ROM 34 as a standby temperature setting map. When the set temperature Ts, the outside air temperature Ta, and the frequency of use F are given, the corresponding standby temperature Tw is derived. An example of the standby temperature setting map is shown in FIG. FIG. 7A shows the relationship between the set temperature Ts, the outside air temperature Ta, and the standby temperature Tw when the frequency of use F is medium, and FIG. 7B shows the relationship of the frequency F of use when the frequency F is low. The relationship between the set temperature Ts, the outside air temperature Ta, and the standby temperature Tw is shown. When the frequency of use F is high, the normal mode is selected as described above, so that the standby temperature setting map is not prepared. In the standby temperature setting map in the figure, the outside air temperature Ta is divided into three stages: low temperature (for example, less than 10 ° C), medium temperature (for example, 10 ° C or more and less than 20 ° C), and high temperature (for example, 20 ° C or more), and the set temperature Ts is set. It is divided into three stages of low setting, medium setting, and high setting, and the usage frequency F is divided into two stages of medium frequency and low frequency, and the standby temperature Tw is set based on the combination of each outside air temperature Ta, set temperature Ts, and usage frequency F. Set. The number of divisions of the outside air temperature Ta, the set temperature Ts, and the frequency of use F is not limited to this, and may be any number as long as each is 2 or more. In the standby temperature setting map, the standby temperature Tw is lower when the outside air temperature Ta is high than when it is low, and when the set temperature Ts is high, it is higher than when it is low, and the frequency of use is high. When F is high, it is set to be higher than when it is low. In the present embodiment, the standby temperature Tw is set by setting any of standby 1, standby 2, standby 3, standby 4, and off. In the figure, the standby temperature Tw of standby 1, standby 2, standby 3, and standby 4 is set to standby 1, standby 2, standby 3, and standby 4 in order from the highest temperature. Further, in the present embodiment, the standby temperature 2 is set to a temperature equivalent to the low setting of the set temperature Ts. When the standby temperature Tw is set in this way, the set standby temperature Tw is set to the target temperature T * (step S440), and the toilet seat heater 20 is controlled so that the toilet seat 14 is heated at the target temperature T * (step S460). ), End this process. When it is determined in step S410 that entry into the room is detected, the input set temperature Ts is set to the target temperature T * (step S450), and the toilet seat heater is heated at the set target temperature T *. 20 is controlled (step S460), and this process ends.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a state of time change of the target temperature for each outside air temperature when the set temperature is set high, and FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram for each target temperature for each outside air temperature when the set temperature is set to medium. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a state of time change of the target temperature, and FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a state of time change of a target temperature for each outside air temperature when the set temperature is set low. As shown in the figure, when the usage frequency F is high frequency or high frequency (predetermined frequency or higher), the normal mode is set as the control mode of the toilet seat heating control, and the set temperature Ts is set as the target temperature T *. .. However, if the set temperature Ts is set low in the normal mode, the user is significantly uncomfortable only when the frequency F is particularly high and the frequency is high and the outside temperature Ta is relatively low at low or medium temperature. A temperature higher than the set temperature Ts is set as the target temperature T * (see FIGS. 10 (a) and 10 (b)). When the frequency of use F is medium frequency or low frequency (less than a predetermined frequency), a quick warming mode is set as the control mode. In the quick warming mode, when the user is not detected by the room entry detection sensor 24, the standby temperature Tw lower than the set temperature Ts is set as the target temperature T *, and when the user is detected by the room entry detection sensor 24, the setting is made. The temperature Ts is set as the target temperature T *. The standby temperature Tw in the quick warming mode is set to be lower when the outside air temperature Ta is high than when it is low, and to be higher when the frequency of use F is high than when it is low. ..

As described above, in the normal mode, since the toilet seat heater 20 is basically controlled based on the set temperature Ts, it is easy to secure comfort, but wasteful power consumption occurs in a time zone when it is not used much. There is a risk. On the other hand, in the quick warming mode, since the toilet seat 14 is usually made to stand by at a standby temperature Tw lower than the set temperature Ts, it is easy to secure power saving, while the user who enters the toilet room changes to the toilet seat 14 earlier than expected. When seated, the temperature of the toilet seat 14 may not rise in time, and comfort may be impaired. In the present embodiment, the normal mode and the quick warming mode are appropriately selected and executed according to the frequency of use F, so that comfort and power saving can be well balanced.

In the toilet seat device 10 of the first embodiment described above, the user has a normal mode in which the toilet seat heater 20 is controlled so that the toilet seat 14 is heated based on a set temperature Ts set by the user, and a room entry detection sensor 24. When is not detected, the toilet seat heater 20 is controlled or the toilet seat heater 20 is turned off based on the standby temperature Tw lower than the set temperature Ts, and when the user is detected by the entry detection sensor 24, the set temperature Ts is set from the standby temperature Tw. One of the quick warming modes in which the toilet seat heater 20 is controlled so as to raise the temperature to is selected and executed. By selecting and executing the normal mode and the detection temperature rise mode as necessary, comfort and power saving can be well balanced.

Further, in the toilet seat device 10 of the first embodiment, the usage frequency F of the toilet for each time zone is learned in advance, and the usage frequency F is a time zone (high frequency, high frequency time zone) equal to or higher than a predetermined frequency (high frequency). ), The normal mode is selected and executed, and in the time zone where the frequency of use F is less than the predetermined frequency (medium frequency, low frequency time zone), the quick warming mode is selected and executed. That is, the normal mode is selected with priority given to the comfort of the user in the frequently used time zone, and the quick warming mode is selected with priority given to the power saving in the time zone in which the user is not frequently used. As a result, the comfort of the user and the power saving can be better balanced.

Further, in the toilet seat device 10 of the first embodiment, as the quick warming mode, the standby temperature Tw is lower when the toilet usage frequency F is low (low frequency) than when it is high (medium frequency), so that it is comfortable. It is possible to further improve the power saving property while ensuring the property to some extent.

When the set temperature Ts is set low, the toilet seat heater 20 is heated based on a temperature higher than the set temperature Ts during a high frequency period when the toilet usage frequency F is particularly high. To control. As a result, even when the set temperature is lowered by the user himself / herself, it is possible to prevent the user from being significantly uncomfortable during the time when the frequency of use is particularly high.

In the first embodiment, the normal mode and the quick warming mode are switched according to the frequency of use F. However, a changeover switch operated by the user is provided, and the normal mode and the quick warming mode are switched based on the operation of the changeover switch. You may switch between.

In the first embodiment, in the normal mode, when the set temperature Ts is set low (predetermined temperature or less), the temperature becomes higher than the set temperature Ts in a high frequency time zone in which the toilet usage frequency F is particularly high. Based on this, the toilet seat heater 20 is controlled so that the toilet seat 14 is heated. However, the toilet seat heater 20 may be controlled based on the set temperature Ts regardless of the set temperature Ts.

In the first embodiment, in the quick warming mode, the standby temperature Tw is lower when the outside air temperature Ta is high than when it is low, and is higher when the set temperature Ts is high than when it is low. Moreover, when the frequency of use F is high, it is set to be higher than when it is low. However, the standby temperature Tw may be set independently of the outside air temperature Ta. Further, the standby temperature Tw may be set independently of the frequency of use F. Further, the standby temperature Tw may be set independently of the set temperature Ts.

The toilet seat device 10 of the second embodiment has a learning mode and a quick warming mode described above as modes for controlling toilet seat heating. In the learning mode, basically, the toilet seat heater is heated so that the toilet seat 14 is heated based on the set temperature Ts during the time zone when the toilet usage frequency F is equal to or higher than a predetermined frequency (medium frequency, high frequency or high frequency). In this mode, the toilet seat heater 20 is controlled so that the toilet seat 14 is heated based on a temperature lower than the set temperature Ts in a time zone when the frequency of use F is less than a predetermined frequency (low frequency). As the toilet usage frequency F for each time zone, the one learned by the usage frequency learning process of FIG. 3 described above can be used.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the toilet seat heating control process of the second embodiment. In the second-implemented liquid toilet seat heating control process, the CPU 32 of the control device 30 first reads the usage frequency F for each time zone from the RAM 36 (step S500). Then, based on the read frequency F for each time zone, the unused (low frequency) time zones are totaled to calculate the unused time tl (low frequency time) (step S510). It is determined whether or not the unused time tl is larger than the predetermined time tref (step S520). When it is determined that the unused time tl is larger than the predetermined time tref, the learning mode is selected as the control mode for the toilet seat heating control (step S530), this process is terminated, and the unused time tl is equal to or less than the predetermined time tref. If it is determined, the quick warming mode is selected as the control mode (step S540), and this process is terminated. The predetermined time tref will be described later.

The learning mode is executed by the learning mode processing shown in FIG. In the learning mode processing, the CPU 32 first inputs the set temperature Ts from the toilet seat temperature setting switch 18a and the current time t from the RTC 38 (step S600). Subsequently, the usage frequency F of the time zone to which the input current time t belongs is read from the RAM 36 (step S610), whether or not the usage frequency F is low (less than a predetermined frequency) (step S620), and the usage frequency F is It is determined whether or not the frequency is higher than the high frequency (the second predetermined frequency higher than the predetermined frequency) (step S630). When it is determined that the usage frequency F is higher than the high frequency, it is further determined whether or not the set temperature Ts is set low (step S640). If it is determined in steps S620 and S630 that the frequency of use F is neither low frequency nor high frequency or higher, that is, it is determined that the frequency is medium, the input set temperature Ts is set to the target temperature T * (step S650). If it is determined in step S620 that the frequency of use F is low, the target temperature T * is set based on the input set temperature Ts and the outside air temperature Ta (step S660). Here, in the present embodiment, the target temperature T * is set by obtaining the relationship between the set temperature Ts, the outside air temperature Ta, and the target temperature T * in advance and storing it in the ROM 34 as a target temperature setting map. Given Ts and the outside air temperature Ta, this is done by deriving the corresponding target temperature T *. An example of the target temperature setting map is shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the target temperature T * is set to a temperature lower than the set temperature Ts in the time zone when the frequency of use F is low, and when the outside air temperature Ta is high, it is lower than when it is low. Is set. In the present embodiment, the target temperature T * is set by setting either low temperature, low temperature (temperature lower than low temperature), or off (heating off) in the time zone when the frequency of use F is low. .. In steps 630 and S640, when it is determined that the frequency of use F is higher than the frequency and the set temperature Ts is set low, the target temperature T * is set by adding the predetermined temperature ΔT to the set temperature Ts (step S660). ). When the target temperature T * is set in this way, the toilet seat heater 20 is controlled so that the toilet seat 14 is heated at the set target temperature T * (step S670), and this process ends. In the present embodiment, as described above, basically, when the frequency of use F is not low, the target temperature T * is set to the set temperature Ts set by the user, but the set temperature Ts is low. When the frequency of use F is higher than the high frequency in the setting, the target temperature T * is exceptionally set to a temperature higher than the set temperature Ts. This is to prevent the user from being significantly uncomfortable in the time zone when the frequency of use F is particularly high, even when the set temperature Ts is set low by the user himself / herself.

Here, in the learning mode, the toilet seat heater 20 is controlled at a temperature lower than the set temperature Ts in the frequently used time zone, and the toilet seat heater 20 is controlled based on the set temperature Ts in the less used time zone. Therefore, it is easy to secure comfort immediately after sitting on the toilet seat 14, but the shorter the time zone when it is not used much, the lower the power saving property. On the other hand, in the quick warming mode, the toilet seat heater 20 is controlled at a temperature lower than the set temperature Ts (standby temperature Tw) when the user is not detected, and rises to the set temperature Ts when the user is detected. Since the toilet seat heater 20 is controlled so as to be heated, the temperature rise may not be in time immediately after sitting, which may impair comfort. However, if the number of times of use is not so high, the time zone when it is not used much is short. However, it is easy to secure power saving. In the present embodiment, when the unused time tl is larger than the predetermined time tref, it is determined that the learning mode has higher power saving than the quick warming mode, the learning mode is selected, and the unused time tl is the predetermined time. When it is tref or less, it is judged that the quick warming mode has higher power saving than the learning mode, and the quick warming mode is selected. As a result, it is possible to improve power saving while ensuring a certain degree of comfort. For the predetermined time tref, for example, the learning mode and the quick warming mode are experimentally executed while the unused time tl is gradually shortened to measure the power consumption of both modes, and the power consumption of both modes is measured from the measurement results. The unused time tl when the magnitude of the above is reversed is derived as a predetermined time tref.

In the toilet seat device of the second embodiment described above, the toilet usage frequency F for each time zone is learned in advance, and the set temperature set by the user in the time zone when the usage frequency F is equal to or higher than a predetermined frequency (medium frequency or higher). A learning mode in which the toilet seat heater 20 is controlled based on Ts and the toilet seat heater 20 is controlled based on a standby temperature Tw lower than the set temperature Ts in a time zone in which the usage frequency F is less than a predetermined frequency (low frequency), and a quick warming mode. Select and execute one of multiple modes including and. By appropriately selecting and executing the learning mode and the detection temperature raising mode as necessary, it is possible to balance comfort and power saving.

Further, in the toilet seat device of the second embodiment, the learning mode is selected when the unused time tl is larger than the predetermined time tref, and the quick warming mode is selected when the unused time tl is less than the predetermined time tref. In the learning mode, the power saving property decreases as the time zone that is not used much becomes shorter, but in the quick warming mode, the power saving property does not decrease so much even if the time zone that is not used much is shortened. By selecting and executing the mode in which the power consumption or the electricity charge is reduced in a certain period of time, it is possible to further improve the power saving while ensuring a certain degree of comfort.

Further, in the toilet seat device of the second embodiment, when the set temperature Ts is set low (predetermined temperature or less) in the learning mode, the toilet usage frequency F is higher than the set temperature Ts in a time zone of high frequency or higher. The toilet seat heater 20 is controlled so that the toilet seat 14 is heated based on the high temperature. As a result, even when the set temperature is lowered by the user himself / herself, it is possible to prevent the user from being significantly uncomfortable during the time period when the frequency of use is high.

In the second embodiment, the learning mode and the quick warming mode are switched according to the low frequency time tl. However, a changeover switch operated by the user is provided, and the learning mode and the quick warming mode are switched based on the operation of the changeover switch. You may switch between modes.

In the second embodiment, when the set temperature Ts is set low (predetermined temperature or less) in the learning mode, it is based on a temperature higher than the set temperature Ts in a time zone in which the toilet usage frequency F is high and high frequency or higher. The toilet seat heater 20 is controlled so that the toilet seat 14 is heated. However, the toilet seat heater 20 may be controlled based on the set temperature Ts regardless of whether the set temperature Ts is set low.

In the second embodiment, in the learning mode, the target temperature T * in the time zone when the frequency of use F is low is lower than the set temperature Ts, and when the outside air temperature Ta is high, it is lower than when it is low. Is set to. However, the target temperature T * at this time may be set independently of the outside air temperature Ta.

In the second embodiment, the learning mode is selected when the unused time tl is larger than the predetermined time tref, and the quick warming mode is selected when the low frequency time tl is equal to or less than the predetermined time tref. However, for example, in the learning mode, the power consumption for each time zone is obtained based on the target temperature T * of the toilet seat 14 set according to the frequency F of the toilet for each time zone, and these are integrated for a predetermined period. In addition to calculating the power consumption of the learning mode, the power consumption of the quick warming mode is calculated based on the total number of times the toilet is used in a predetermined period, and the mode of the learning mode or the quick warming mode that consumes less power is selected. It may be selected. Further, the electricity charge may be calculated instead of the power consumption, and the mode in which the calculated electricity charge is smaller may be selected from the learning mode and the quick warming mode. When the electricity rate changes for each time zone, the electricity rate may be calculated by multiplying the unit price of the electricity rate for each time zone by the power consumption for each time zone. The electricity rate unit price for each time zone may be acquired by manual input by the user, or may be acquired from an external device via communication.

As the control mode of the toilet seat heating control, the first embodiment has a normal mode and a quick warming mode, and the second embodiment has a learning mode and a quick warming mode. However, it may have three modes, a normal mode, a learning mode, and a quick warming mode, and these modes may be selected and executed. Further, it may have only the quick warming mode. In the latter case, as shown in FIG. 14, when the user is not detected by the entry detection sensor 24, the standby temperature Tw lower than the set temperature Ts is set as the target temperature T * and based on the set target temperature T *. The toilet seat heater 20 is controlled, and when the user is detected by the entry detection sensor 24, the set temperature Ts is set to the target temperature T * and the toilet seat heater 20 is controlled based on the set target temperature T *. When the frequency of use F is high, the standby temperature Tw is set to be higher than when it is low, and when the outside air temperature Ta is high, it is set to be lower than when it is low. Even with this modification, comfort and power saving can be well balanced.

The correspondence between the main elements of the embodiment and the main elements of the invention described in the column of means for solving the problem will be described. In the embodiment, the toilet seat 14 corresponds to the "toilet seat", the toilet seat heater 20 corresponds to the "heating device", the room entry detection sensor 24 corresponds to the "user detection sensor", and the control device 30 becomes the "control device". Equivalent to.

Regarding the correspondence between the main elements of the embodiment and the main elements of the invention described in the column of means for solving the problem, the invention described in the column of means for the embodiment to solve the problem is carried out. Since it is an example for specifically explaining the form for solving the problem, the elements of the invention described in the column of means for solving the problem are not limited. That is, the interpretation of the invention described in the column of means for solving the problem should be performed based on the description in the column, and the embodiment is the invention described in the column of means for solving the problem. It is just a concrete example.

Although the embodiments for carrying out the present invention have been described above using the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various embodiments are used without departing from the gist of the present invention. Of course, it can be done.

The present invention can be used in the manufacturing industry of toilet seat devices and the like.

1 toilet bowl, 10 toilet seat device, 12 toilet seat device body, 14 toilet seat, 14a seating surface, 16 toilet lid, 18 remote control device (remote control), 18a toilet seat temperature setting switch, 20 toilet seat heater, 22 toilet seat temperature sensor, 24 entry detection sensor , 26 Seating detection sensor, 28 Outside temperature sensor, 30 Control device, 32 CPU, 34 ROM, 36 RAM, 38 RTC.

Claims (6)

A toilet seat device that has a toilet seat
A heating device that heats the toilet seat and
A user detection sensor that detects the user and a user detection sensor
The normal mode in which the heating device is controlled so that the toilet seat is heated based on the set temperature set by the user, and the temperature lower than the set temperature when the user is not detected by the user detection sensor. A detection temperature rise mode in which the heating device is controlled with the temperature as the standby temperature or the heating device is turned off and the heating device is controlled so that the temperature rises when the user is detected by the user detection sensor. A control device that selects and executes one of multiple modes, including
Toilet seat device equipped with. The toilet seat device according to claim 1.
The control device learns the frequency of use of the toilet seat in advance for each time zone, selects the normal mode in the time zone when the frequency of use of the toilet seat is equal to or higher than the predetermined frequency, and the time when the frequency of use of the toilet seat is less than the predetermined frequency. Select the detection temperature rise mode in the band,
Toilet seat device. The toilet seat device according to claim 2.
In the detection temperature raising mode, the control device lowers the standby temperature as compared with the case where the frequency of use of the toilet seat is low when the frequency of use of the toilet seat is less than the predetermined frequency. Control the heating device,
Toilet seat device. A toilet seat device that has a toilet seat
A heating device that heats the toilet seat and
A user detection sensor that detects the user and a user detection sensor
The heating device is controlled so that the frequency of use of the toilet seat is learned in advance for each time zone and the toilet seat is heated based on a set temperature set by the user in a time zone in which the frequency of use of the toilet seat is equal to or higher than a predetermined frequency. A learning mode in which the heating device is controlled or the heating device is turned off so that the toilet seat is heated based on a temperature lower than the set temperature in a time zone in which the frequency of use of the toilet seat is less than the predetermined frequency, and the above. When the user is not detected by the user detection sensor and the heating device is controlled with a temperature lower than the set temperature as the standby temperature or the heating device is turned off and the user is detected by the user detection sensor. A control device that selects and executes one of a plurality of modes including a detection temperature rise mode that controls the heating device so that the temperature of the toilet seat rises.
Toilet seat device equipped with. The toilet seat device according to claim 4.
The control device predicts the mode in which the power consumption or the electricity charge is reduced in a certain period of the learning mode and the detected temperature raising mode, and selects the predicted mode.
Toilet seat device. The toilet seat device according to any one of claims 2 to 5.
When the set temperature is equal to or lower than the predetermined temperature, the control device is based on a temperature higher than the set temperature in a time zone in which the frequency of use of the toilet seat is higher than the predetermined frequency and is equal to or higher than the second predetermined frequency. Control the heating device so that the toilet seat is heated,
Toilet seat device.

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