JP2021173433A - Bath function device and bath system - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a bath function device capable of appropriately accepting voice input though a microphone, and a bath system.SOLUTION: A hot water supply device 10 (bath function device) comprises a water heater 11, a remote controller 12 installed in a bathroom and capable of communicating with the water heater 11, a microphone 127 provided on the remote controller 12, and a control unit 123 that performs control based on voice input via the microphone 127. The control unit 123 starts accepting the voice input when an existence condition that regulates that a person may exist in the bathroom is satisfied, and stop accepting the voice input when an absence condition that regulates that there may be no person in the bathroom is satisfied.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to a bath function device that supplies hot water from a water heater to a bathtub, and a bath system that can remotely control the bath function device by a mobile terminal device.

Conventionally, there is known a bath function device that stores hot water supplied from a water heater in a bathtub. In addition, there is also known a bath function device that warms the water in the bathtub by circulating the water stored in the bathtub to the combustor. In these bath function devices, for example, a plurality of remote controllers installed in a bathroom or kitchen execute bath-related functions such as hot water filling and reheating (see Patent Document 1).

In these bath function devices, a configuration for receiving voice input from the user may be used. In this case, for example, a remote controller in a bathroom or kitchen is provided with a microphone for voice input. When the remote controller is provided with a microphone, it is possible to operate the water heater by the voice input to the microphone. In addition, it becomes possible to make a call between a plurality of remote controllers.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2017-32252

During the day, the time when people are present in the bathroom for bathing etc. is relatively short. Therefore, when the remote controller installed in the bathroom has a microphone, if the voice input is always received through the microphone, the microphone is not the input voice of a person in the bathroom, which is unintended. It becomes easier to pick up the sound, which may lead to malfunction of the water heater.

In view of such a problem, an object of the present invention is to provide a bath function device and a bath system capable of properly accepting voice input via a microphone.

The first aspect of the present invention relates to a bath function device. The bath function device according to this aspect is a water heater, an operator installed in the bathroom and capable of communicating with the water heater, a microphone provided in the operator, and control based on voice input via the microphone. It is provided with a control unit for performing the above. Here, the control unit starts accepting the voice input because the existence condition that defines the possibility that a person may exist in the bathroom is satisfied, and no person exists in the bathroom. The reception of the voice input is stopped because the absence condition that stipulates the possibility is satisfied.

According to the bath function device according to this aspect, when there is no person in the bathroom, the voice input is not accepted, so that it may be difficult for the microphone to pick up an unintended sound.

The bath function device according to this aspect may be configured to include a power source for supplying electric power to the microphone. In this case, the control unit is configured to start accepting the voice input by causing the power supply to supply power, and stop accepting the voice input by stopping the power supply to the power supply. Can be said.

According to this configuration, when there is no person in the bathroom and voice input is not performed, it becomes difficult to supply power to the microphone, and it becomes difficult for the microphone to operate. Therefore, wasteful power consumption by the microphone can be suppressed.

In the bath function device according to this aspect, the existence condition may include that the water heater is in the operation-on state. Further, the absence condition may include that the water heater is in an operation off state.

According to this configuration, by monitoring the operating state of the water heater, it is possible to appropriately determine the possibility of the presence or absence of a person in the bathroom.

The bath function device according to this aspect may be configured to be installed in the bathroom and provided with a person detection unit for detecting a person. In this case, the existence condition may include that the presence of a person is detected by the output from the person detection unit. Further, the absence condition may include a state in which the presence of a person is not detected by the output from the person detection unit continues for a predetermined time.

According to this configuration, since the person detection unit detects the person, it is possible to appropriately determine the possibility of the presence or absence of the person in the bathroom.

In the bath function device according to this aspect, the existence condition may include an operation on the actuator. Further, the absence condition may include that the state in which the operation device is not operated continues for a predetermined time.

According to this configuration, by monitoring the operation on the actuator, it is possible to appropriately determine the possibility of the presence or absence of a person in the bathroom.

The bath function device according to this aspect may be configured to include an entry / exit detection unit for detecting the entry / exit of a person into the bathtub in the bathroom. In this case, the existence condition may include that bathing is detected by the bathing / exit detecting unit. In addition, the absence condition may include the detection of bathing by the bathing detection unit.

According to this configuration, by monitoring the presence or absence of bathing in the bathtub, it is possible to appropriately determine the possibility of the presence or absence of a person in the bathroom.

The bath function device according to this aspect may be configured to include a hot water discharge sensor that detects the presence or absence of hot water discharge operation by the water heater. In this case, the existence condition may include that the hot water discharge operation is detected by the hot water discharge sensor. In addition, the absence condition may include the detection of the stop of the hot water discharge operation by the hot water discharge sensor.

According to this configuration, by monitoring the presence or absence of hot water from the water heater, it is possible to appropriately determine the possibility of the presence or absence of a person in the bathroom.

The bath function device according to this aspect may be configured to include an open / close sensor for detecting the opening / closing of the door for entering / exiting the bathroom. In this case, the existence condition may include that the opening / closing of the door is detected by the opening / closing sensor when the reception of the voice input is stopped. Further, the absence condition may include that the opening / closing of the door is detected by the opening / closing sensor at the time of receiving the voice input.

According to this configuration, by monitoring the opening and closing of the door, it is possible to appropriately determine the possibility of the presence or absence of a person in the bathroom.

When the bath function device is configured to include a bathing / exiting detection unit, a bathing timer unit that starts counting according to the detection of bathing by the bathing / exiting detection unit, and the bathing timer unit. Counts the safety confirmation unit that executes the process for confirming the safety of the bather based on counting the predetermined set time, and the bathing timer unit based on the fact that the sound is detected via the microphone. A configuration may be adopted in which a timer extension portion for extension is provided.

According to this configuration, even if bathing continues for the initially set time, if sound is detected in the bathroom and it is considered that there is no abnormality in the bather, the bather is asked to confirm the safety. Not done. Therefore, no extra safety confirmation is made to the bather, and no extra burden of response is forced on the bather. Further, in this case as well, since the count of the bathing timer unit is only extended, the long-time bathing can be appropriately monitored based on the timed time of the bathing timer unit, and the safety of the bather can be monitored.

A second aspect of the present invention relates to a bath system. The bath system according to this aspect includes a server connected to an external communication network and a bath function device according to the first aspect, which can be remotely controlled by a mobile terminal device via the server.

According to the bath system according to this aspect, the same effect as that of the bath function device according to the first aspect can be obtained.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a bath function device and a bath system capable of properly accepting voice input via a microphone.

The effects or significance of the present invention will be further clarified by the description of the embodiments shown below. However, the embodiments shown below are merely examples when the present invention is put into practice, and the present invention is not limited to those described in the following embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a hot water supply device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a circuit block of each device constituting the hot water supply device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing a connection mode between the water heater and the bathtub according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4A is a flowchart showing a process based on voice input executed by the control unit of the bathroom remote controller according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4B is a flowchart showing control of reception of voice input by the control unit of the bathroom remote controller according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a process of determining whether or not the existence condition is satisfied in the bathroom remote controller according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a process of determining whether or not the absence condition is satisfied in the bathroom remote controller according to the first embodiment. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the control executed by the bathroom remote controller when the bathing monitoring function according to the first embodiment is operated. 8 (a) and 8 (b) are time charts showing the timer extension process according to the first embodiment. FIG. 9A is a flowchart showing the control of the kitchen remote controller when the bathing monitoring function is operated according to the first embodiment. FIG. 9B is a diagram showing a configuration of a safety confirmation instruction reception screen displayed on the kitchen remote controller according to the first embodiment. FIG. 10A is a flowchart showing the control in the bathroom remote controller when the confirmation command is received according to the first embodiment. FIG. 10B is a flowchart showing the control in the kitchen remote controller when the safety confirmation result is received according to the first embodiment. 11 (a) to 11 (d) are diagrams schematically showing the safety confirmation operation in the bathroom remote controller according to the first embodiment, respectively. 12 (a) and 12 (b) are diagrams schematically showing the notification operation executed by the kitchen remote controller when the safety confirmation result is received according to the first embodiment, respectively. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a configuration of a hot water supply system according to the second embodiment. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a circuit block of each device constituting the hot water supply system according to the second embodiment. 15 (a) and 15 (b) are flowcharts showing the controls executed by the kitchen remote controller and the server when the bathing monitoring function according to the second embodiment is operated, respectively. FIG. 16A is a flowchart showing the control executed by the mobile terminal device when the bathing monitoring function according to the second embodiment is operated. FIG. 16B is a diagram showing a configuration of a safety confirmation instruction reception screen displayed on the mobile terminal device according to the second embodiment. FIG. 17A is a flowchart showing control in the mobile terminal device when the safety confirmation result is received according to the second embodiment. 17 (b) and 17 (c) are diagrams showing a notification screen displayed on the mobile terminal device when the safety confirmation result is received according to the second embodiment, respectively.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

In the following embodiment, the hot water supply device 10 corresponds to the "bath function device" described in the claims. Further, the remote controller 12 corresponds to the "manipulator" described in the claims. Further, the flow rate sensor 115 corresponds to the "hot water sensor" described in the claims. Further, the microphone power supply 127a corresponds to the "power supply" described in the claims. Further, the motion sensor 128 corresponds to the "human detection unit" described in the claims.

However, the above description is intended only for the purpose of associating the configuration of the claims with the configuration of the embodiment, and the invention described in the scope of claims by the above association becomes the configuration of the embodiment. It is not limited in any way.

<Embodiment 1>
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a hot water supply device 10 according to the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, the hot water supply device 10 includes a water heater 11 and remote controllers 12 and 13. The water heater 11 is a gas water heater that supplies hot water using gas as fuel. The hot water generated by the water heater 11 is supplied to the faucet of the kitchen, the bathtub, the curan, etc. via the pipes connected to the hot water supply port 11a. When the water heater 11 has a floor heating function, a bathroom heating function, and a heating function by a panel heater, hot water is supplied from the water heater 11 to a device that realizes these functions.

The remote controllers 12 and 13 are connected to the water heater 11 and are used to make various settings for each function of the water heater 10. The remote controller 12 includes a display unit 121 and an input unit 122, and the remote controller 13 includes a display input unit 131 made of a touch panel and an operation button 132. By operating the input unit 122 according to the screen displayed on the display unit 121, the operator can make arbitrary settings for hot water filling, hot water supply temperature adjustment, and the like. The operator can also set the hot water filling and the like by operating the display input unit 131.

The remote controller 12 is installed in the bathroom, and the remote controller 13 is installed in the kitchen or the like. The remote controllers 12 and 13 are provided with audio windows 12a and 13a for inputting and outputting audio.

Hereinafter, the remote controller 12 installed in the bathroom will be referred to as a "bathroom remote controller 12", and the remote controller 13 installed in the kitchen or the like will be referred to as a "kitchen remote controller 13".

The input unit 122 of the bathroom remote controller 12 includes an operation button 122a. The operation buttons 122a and 132 are buttons for switching the water heater 11 between the operation on state and the operation off state.

When the bathroom remote controller 12 and the kitchen remote controller 13 are in an operation off state (a state in which the water heater 11 does not perform hot water supply operation even if a hot water tap such as a curan is opened and water flows above the reference flow rate), the display unit 121 And the display input unit 131 is in the off state, and the operation of the operation buttons other than the operation buttons 122a and 132 is not accepted. When the operation buttons 122a and 132 are operated and the operation is turned on (a state in which the water heater 11 can perform hot water supply operation when a hot water tap such as a faucet is opened and water flow exceeds a reference flow rate), the display unit 121 and The display input unit 131 lights up to display the setting contents, and operations of operation buttons other than the operation buttons 122a and 132 can be accepted.

Further, the input unit 122 and the display input unit 131 include a button for changing the hot water supply temperature. The operator can change the set temperature of the hot water supply by operating this button. In addition, the input unit 122 and the display input unit 131 include buttons for controlling the operation of the water heater 11, such as a reheating function, a button for executing additional hot water, additional water, and an automatic bath function. It has been.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a circuit block of each device constituting the hot water supply device 10.

The water heater 11 includes a control unit 111, a storage unit 112, a communication unit 113, a water level sensor 114, and a flow rate sensor 115. The control unit 111 includes a microcomputer and controls each unit in the water heater 11 according to a program stored in the storage unit 112. The storage unit 112 includes a memory and stores a predetermined control program.

In the present embodiment, the function of the bath / exit detection unit 111a is given to the control unit 111 by the control program stored in the storage unit 112. As will be described later, the bath entry / exit detection unit 111a detects the entry / exit of a person into the bathtub based on the detection result of the water level sensor 114.

The communication unit 113 communicates with the bathroom remote controller 12 and the kitchen remote controller 13 according to the control from the control unit 111. The communication unit 113 is connected to the communication unit 125 of the bathroom remote controller 12 and the communication unit 135 of the kitchen remote controller 13 via the two-core communication lines L1 and L2. Further, the two-core communication lines L1 and L2 are connected to each other inside the communication unit 113. Therefore, the communication unit 125 of the bathroom remote controller 12 and the communication unit 135 of the kitchen remote controller 13 are connected to each other by the two-core communication lines L1 and L2. Therefore, the signal transmitted from any of the communication units 113, 125, and 135 is simultaneously transmitted to the other communication units. The power supply to the bathroom remote controller 12 and the kitchen remote controller 13 is performed via the two-core communication lines L1 and L2. The communication signal is superimposed on the power supply voltage supplied by the two-core communication lines L1 and L2.

As will be described later, the water level sensor 114 is arranged in a pipeline in the water heater 11 and detects the water level in the bathtub based on the water pressure in the pipeline. The control unit 111 detects the water level in the bathtub based on the detection result of the water level sensor 114. Further, the control unit 111 detects the entry and exit of a person into the bathtub by the function of the bathtub detection unit 111a based on the fluctuation of the water level detected by the water level sensor 114. The bath entry / exit detection result is transmitted from the control unit 111 to the bathroom remote controller 12 and the kitchen remote controller 13 at any time via the two-core communication lines L1 and L2.

The flow rate sensor 115 detects the flow rate of hot water supplied from the water heater 11 to the bathroom faucet or the external faucet. By detecting the flow rate by the flow rate sensor 115, it is possible to detect that hot water has been discharged from the water heater 11. Therefore, the flow rate sensor 115 also functions as a hot water discharge sensor. When the flow rate sensor 115 detects hot water from the water heater 11, the control unit 111 transmits hot water information to the bathroom remote controller 12.

FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing a connection form between the water heater 11 and the bathtub 2.

As shown in FIG. 3, in addition to the configuration shown in FIG. 2, the water heater 11 includes a hot water supply unit 210, a reheating unit 220, and a bypass unit 230.

The hot water supply unit 210 includes a water supply pipe line 211, a hot water supply heat exchanger 212, a hot water supply pipe line 213, a hot water supply combustor 214, and an air supply fan 215. The water supply line 211 is connected to the water pipe and the hot water supply heat exchanger 212, and the hot water supply line 213 is connected to the hot water supply heat exchanger 212, the bathroom faucet 3, and the external faucet 4. Gas (fuel gas) is supplied to the hot water supply combustor 214 through the hot water supply gas pipeline 217 opened and closed by the gas solenoid valve 216. The hot water supply combustor 214 burns gas as fuel. The air supply fan 215 supplies combustion air to the hot water combustor 214. The hot water supply unit 210 includes the flow rate sensor 115 shown in FIG. The flow rate sensor 115 is arranged in the hot water supply pipe line 213.

In addition to the water level sensor 114 shown in FIG. 2, the reheating unit 220 includes a return pipe line 221, a bath heat exchanger 222, an outgoing pipe line 223, a bath combustor 224, and a circulation pump 225. The return pipe line 221 is connected to the circulation adapter 2a of the bathtub 2 and the bath heat exchanger 222, and the outbound pipe line 223 is connected to the bath heat exchanger 222 and the bath heat exchanger 2a.

Gas (fuel gas) is supplied to the bath combustor 224 through the bath gas pipeline 227 opened and closed by the gas solenoid valve 226. The bath combustor 224 burns gas as fuel. The air supply fan 215 is shared between the hot water supply unit 210 and the reheating unit 220, and combustion air is supplied from the air supply fan 215 to the bath combustor 224. A circulation pump 225 and a water level sensor 114 are arranged in the return pipe 221. The water level sensor 114 detects the water level in the bathtub 2 based on the water pressure in the return pipe 221.

The bypass unit 230 includes a bypass pipe line 231 and a hot water supply solenoid valve 232. The bypass line 231 is connected to the hot water supply line 213 and the return line 221. The hot water supply solenoid valve 232 opens and closes the bypass pipe line 231.

The control unit 111 includes a hot water supply combustor 214, an air supply fan 215, a gas solenoid valve 216 and a flow rate sensor 115 of the hot water supply unit 210, a bath combustor 224 of the reheating unit 220, a circulation pump 225, a water level sensor 114 and a gas solenoid valve 226. , Controls the hot water supply solenoid valve 232 of the bypass unit 230 and the like.

When the bathroom faucet 3 or the external faucet 4 is opened, the hot water supply function is executed. Water from the water pipe is introduced into the hot water supply heat exchanger 212 through the water supply pipe line 211, and the hot water supply combustor 214 burns to heat the hot water supply heat exchanger 212. The water introduced into the hot water supply heat exchanger 212 is heated to become hot water, and the hot water is supplied to the bathroom faucet 3 or the external faucet 4 through the hot water supply pipeline 213. When the bathroom faucet 3 or the external faucet 4 is closed, the water supply from the water pipe to the water supply pipe 211 is stopped and the combustion of the hot water combustor 214 is stopped.

Further, when the bathroom remote controller 12 or the kitchen remote controller 13 receives a command to fill the bathtub 2, the control unit 111 executes the hot water filling function (bath automatic function). In this case, the hot water supply electromagnetic valve 232 is opened, and the water from the water pipe is introduced into the hot water supply heat exchanger 212 through the water supply pipe line 211 and heated by the hot water supply heat exchanger 212. Then, the hot water from the hot water supply heat exchanger 212 is introduced into the return pipe line 221 through the hot water supply pipe line 213 and the bypass pipe line 231.

A part of the hot water introduced into the return pipe 221 flows through the return pipe 221 toward the circulation adapter 2a and is poured into the bathtub 2 from the circulation adapter 2a. The rest of the hot water introduced into the return pipe 221 flows through the return pipe 221 to the bath heat exchanger 222 side, further flows through the bath heat exchanger 222 and the outbound pipe 223, and flows from the circulation adapter 2a into the bathtub 2. It is poured.

When the hot water is supplied and the hot water is stored in the bathtub 2, the return pipe 221 and the bath heat exchanger 222 and the outbound pipe 223 are filled with water. As a result, the water level sensor 114 can detect the water level in the bathtub 2. When the water level sensor 114 detects that the water level in the bathtub 2 has reached a preset water level, the hot water supply electromagnetic valve 232 is closed, the water supply from the water pipe to the water supply pipe line 211 is stopped, and the hot water supply combustor Combustion of 214 stops.

When a person enters the bathtub 2 filled with hot water, the water level in the bathtub 2 rises. In addition, the water level drops when a person comes out of the bathtub 2. The water level fluctuation based on the entry and exit of people into the bathtub 2 can be detected by the water level sensor 114. As a result, as described above, the function of the bathtub detection unit 111a detects the entry and exit of a person with respect to the bathtub 2.

Further, when the reheating function is executed, the circulation pump 225 operates and the bath combustor 224 burns. The hot water in the bathtub 2 circulates between the bathtub 2 and the circulation path including the return pipe line 221 and the bath heat exchanger 222 and the outbound pipe line 223, and is heated by the bath heat exchanger 222 in the meantime. As a result, the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub 2 rises. When the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub 2 becomes higher than the preset upper limit temperature, the circulation pump 225 is stopped and the combustion of the bath combustor 224 is stopped.

In the addition hot water function, a predetermined amount of hot water is injected into the bathtub 2 by the same control as the hot water filling function (bath automatic function).

Further, when the additional water function is executed, the same control as the hot water filling function (automatic bath function) is executed with the hot water supply combustor 214 and the bath combustor 224 stopped, and a predetermined amount of water is injected into the bathtub 2. Will be done.

The automatic bath function includes a hot water filling function and a heat retaining function that maintains the bath temperature after hot water filling. In the heat retention function, reheating is performed when the bath temperature drops.

Returning to FIG. 2, in addition to the above-mentioned display unit 121 and input unit 122, the bathroom remote controller 12 includes a control unit 123, a storage unit 124, a communication unit 125, a speaker 126, and a microphone (hereinafter referred to as “microphone”). It includes 127 and a motion sensor 128. The display unit 121 is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal panel. The input unit 122 includes various operation buttons such as a temperature setting button. The display unit 121 may be a touch panel.

The control unit 123 includes a microcomputer and performs predetermined control according to a program stored in the storage unit 124. The storage unit 124 includes a memory and stores a predetermined control program. The communication unit 125 communicates with the water heater 11 and the kitchen remote controller 13 according to the control from the control unit 123.

In the present embodiment, the functions of the bathing timer unit 123a, the timer extension unit 123b, and the safety confirmation unit 123c are imparted to the control unit 123 by the control program stored in the storage unit 124.

The bathing timer unit 123a starts counting (timekeeping) when it receives a notification that bathing has been detected from the bathing / exiting detection unit 111a of the water heater 11, and the bathing / exiting detection unit 111a has detected bathing. When the notification of is received, the counting (timekeeping) is terminated and the value is reset to the initial value. As will be described later, the timer extension unit 123b executes a process of extending the count of the bathing timer unit 123a based on the detection of sound via the microphone 127. The safety confirmation unit 123c executes a process for confirming the safety of the bather when the time counting time of the bathing timer unit 123a reaches a preset set time.

The speaker 126 outputs voice based on the voice signal generated by the control unit 123. The storage unit 124 stores voice information for outputting voice such as a notification sound and guidance. The control unit 123 reads the voice information stored in the storage unit 124 at any time, executes the voice synthesis process, and outputs a predetermined voice. The sound output from the speaker 126 is output from the sound window 12a of FIG.

The microphone 127 collects sound and outputs a sound signal through the sound window 12a of FIG.

The motion sensor 128 detects the movement of a person in the bathroom. The motion sensor 128 is, for example, a pyroelectric sensor using infrared rays. The detection range of the motion sensor 128 is set to cover the washing area and the bathtub 2 in the bathroom. The motion sensor 128 may be able to detect the range of the washing place and the range of the bathtub 2 individually. The control unit 123 detects the presence / absence of a person and the movement of a person in the bathroom based on the output of the motion sensor 128.

The bathroom remote controller 12 has a microphone power supply 127a and a voice recognition unit 127b in relation to the microphone 127.

The microphone power supply 127a generates electric power for operating the microphone 127 from the electric power supplied to the bathroom remote controller 12, and supplies the generated electric power to the microphone 127. The control unit 123 controls the on / off of the microphone power supply 127a, that is, whether to supply power from the microphone power supply 127a or to stop the power supply.

The voice recognition unit 127b executes voice recognition processing on the voice signal received from the microphone 127, and outputs text information corresponding to the voice signal to the control unit 123 as a recognition result. The voice recognition unit 127b includes a CPU and a memory, and executes voice recognition processing according to a predetermined voice recognition engine.

Since the voice signal is input to the voice recognition unit 127b while the microphone 127 is operating, the control unit 123 can accept the voice input.

An open / close sensor 129 that detects the opening / closing of the door for entering / exiting the bathroom is connected to the control unit 123 of the bathroom remote controller 12. The open / close sensor 129 is composed of, for example, a photo sensor or a micro switch. A detection signal corresponding to the opening / closing of the door is output from the opening / closing sensor 129 to the control unit 123. The open / close sensor 129 may be connected to the control unit 111 of the water heater 11. In this case, the control unit 123 acquires the detection signal from the open / close sensor 129 via the water heater 11.

In addition to the display input unit 131 and the operation button 132 described above, the kitchen remote controller 13 includes a control unit 133, a storage unit 134, a communication unit 135, a speaker 136, and a microphone (hereinafter referred to as “microphone”) 137. .. The control unit 133 includes a microcomputer and performs predetermined control according to a program stored in the storage unit 134. The storage unit 134 includes a memory and stores a predetermined control program. The communication unit 135 communicates with the water heater 11 and the bathroom remote controller 12 according to the control from the control unit 133.

The speaker 136 outputs a voice based on the voice signal generated by the control unit 133. The storage unit 134 stores voice information for outputting voice such as a notification sound and guidance. The control unit 133 reads the voice information stored in the storage unit 134 at any time, executes the voice synthesis process, and outputs a predetermined voice. The sound output from the speaker 136 is output from the sound window 13a of FIG.

The microphone 137 collects sound and outputs a sound signal through the sound window 13a of FIG.

The hot water supply device 10 is provided with a function of setting information such as bath temperature and hot water supply temperature to the water heater 11 and instructing execution of a hot water filling function and a reheating function by a voice input to the microphone 127. This function will be described below.

FIG. 4A is a flowchart showing a process based on voice input executed by the control unit 123 of the bathroom remote controller 12.

When the bather performs various operations (setting operation such as temperature, execution operation of various functions) on the water heater 11 by voice input, for example, "set the hot water supply temperature to 40 ° C.", "reheat", etc. , Emit the voice corresponding to the operation. In the bathroom remote controller 12, the voice emitted by the bather is collected by the microphone 127, recognized by the voice recognition unit 127b, and the voice recognition result is transmitted to the control unit 123.

With reference to FIG. 4A, the control unit 123 receives the voice input via the microphone 127 by the voice recognition unit 127b. When the control unit 123 receives the voice recognition result from the voice recognition unit 127b (S101: YES), the control unit 123 acquires the operation information based on the received voice recognition result (S102). The operation information includes setting information and command information. The setting information is information for causing the water heater 11 to set the temperature and the like, and the command information is information for causing the water heater 11 to execute a function such as reheating. The control unit 123 acquires the operation information corresponding to the voice recognition result from the table. For example, when a bather utters "Set the hot water supply temperature to 40 ° C." and inputs voice to the bathroom remote controller 12, the control unit 123 inputs the voice recognition result input from the voice recognition unit 127b and the table. In contrast, the setting information of "hot water supply temperature 40 ° C." is acquired from the table. Further, for example, when the bather utters "reheating", the control unit 123 compares the voice recognition result with the table and acquires the command information of "reheating" from the table.

The control unit 123 transmits the operation information thus acquired to the water heater 11 (S103). In the water heater 11, the control unit 111 performs processing according to the operation information. For example, when the control unit 111 receives the setting information of "hot water supply temperature 40 ° C.", it sets the hot water supply temperature to 40 ° C., and when it receives the command information of "reheating", it executes the reheating function.

If the operation information cannot be acquired in step S102, the control unit 123 skips step S103. In this way, the control unit 123 ends the process.

In step S103, the control unit 123 may further output the contents of the operation information acquired and transmitted based on the voice input from the speaker 126. Further, when the operation information cannot be acquired based on the voice input, the voice indicating that may be output from the speaker 126. As a result, the bather can grasp whether or not the water heater 11 has been properly operated by the voice input performed by the bather.

By the way, the time when a person is present in the bathroom for bathing or the like is relatively short in a day. Therefore, if the reception of voice input is always performed via the microphone 127 of the bathroom remote control 12, the microphone 127 tends to pick up an unintended sound that is not the input voice of a person in the bathroom, and hot water is supplied. It may lead to malfunction of the device 11.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the control unit 123 controls the voice input via the microphone 127 while it is considered that a person may exist in the bathroom.

FIG. 4B is a flowchart showing control of reception of voice input by the control unit 123 of the bathroom remote controller 12.

The control unit 123 determines whether or not the reception via the microphone 127 is stopped (microphone power supply 127a is off) (S201), and if the reception is stopped (S201: YES), a person Monitor whether or not the existence conditions that specify the possibility of being present in the bathroom are satisfied (S202). When this existence condition is satisfied (S202: YES), the control unit 123 starts accepting voice input via the microphone 127 by turning on the microphone power supply 127a (S203). Power is supplied to the microphone 127, the microphone 127 operates, and voice input is performed to the voice recognition unit 127b.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a determination process of whether or not the existence condition is satisfied, which is executed in step S202 of FIG. 4B.

In this determination process, the control unit 123 performs some operation on the input unit 122 of the bathroom remote control 12 whether the water heater 11 is in the operation on state, that is, the operation button 122a is pressed in the operation off state (S211). Whether it was done (S212), whether bathing in the bathtub 2 was detected by the bathing / exiting detection unit 111a (S213), whether the presence of a person in the bathroom was detected by the output from the human sensor 128 (S214), the open / close sensor. It is determined whether the opening / closing of the door is detected by 129 (S215) and whether the hot water from the water heater 11 is detected by the flow sensor (hot water sensor) 115 (S216).

If there is a person in the bathroom, the bathroom remote controller 12 can be operated including the operation of turning on the operation, and the bathtub 2 can be bathed. Further, when a person enters the bathroom, the door is opened and closed, and if the person opens the bathroom faucet 3 in the bathroom, the water heater 11 is in a hot water state. Therefore, if at least one of steps S211 to S216 is YES, it can be considered that a person may exist in the bathroom. Therefore, the control unit 123 assumes that the above-mentioned existence condition is satisfied (S217), and FIG. The determination in step S202 of (b) is YES. On the other hand, when all of steps S211 to S216 are NO, the control unit 123 determines in step S202 of FIG. 4 (b) as NO, assuming that the above existence condition is not satisfied (S218).

When the operation button 122a is pressed to turn on the operation, the bathroom remote controller 12 is also operated, so that YES is determined in steps S211 and S212.

With reference to FIG. 4B again, when the reception of voice input is started in step S203, the process returns to the process of step S201, and it is determined that the voice input has been received in this process. (S201: NO). As a result, the control unit 123 monitors whether or not the absence condition that defines that a person may not be present in the bathroom is satisfied (S204). When this absence condition is satisfied (S204: YES), the control unit 123 stops accepting voice input via the microphone 127 by turning off the microphone power supply 127a (S205). Power is no longer supplied to the microphone 127, the microphone 127 does not operate, and voice input is not performed to the voice input unit 127b.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a determination process for determining whether or not the absence condition is satisfied, which is executed in step S204 of FIG. 4B.

In this determination process, the control unit 123 determines whether the water heater 11 is in the operation-on state (S221) or is bathing in the bathtub 2, that is, after the bathing / exit detecting unit 111a detects bathing, the control unit 123 leaves the bathtub. It is determined whether there is no detection (S222) or whether hot water is being supplied from the water heater 11 (S223). If any of the determinations of S221 to S223 is NO, the control unit 123 starts timing by the built-in timer unit (S224), and by the time the predetermined set time elapses (S225: NO), the water heater 11 is set. Whether the operation is turned on (S226), whether some operation has been performed on the input unit 122 of the bathroom remote control 12 (S227), whether the bathing / exit detecting unit 111a has detected bathing in the bathtub 2 (S228), or a person. It is monitored whether the presence of a person in the bathroom is detected by the output from the sensor 128 (S229) or whether the hot water from the water heater 11 is detected by the flow sensor (hot water sensor) 115 (S230).

If there is no person in the bathroom, it is difficult for the luck chain to be turned on, and the bathroom faucet 3 cannot be opened, so that the water heater 11 is unlikely to be in the hot water discharge state. In addition, bathing in the bathtub 2 does not occur, detection is not performed by the motion sensor 128, and the bathroom remote controller 12 is not operated. Therefore, if the set time elapses (S225: YES) with all the determinations of S226 to S230 remaining NO, it can be considered that there is a possibility that no person exists in the bathroom, so that the control unit 123 is absent. Assuming that the condition is satisfied (S232), the determination in step S204 of FIG. 4B is set to YES.

Further, the control unit 123 monitors whether the opening / closing sensor 129 has detected the opening / closing of the door by the time the set time elapses (S225: NO) (S231). A person may have left the bathroom when the door was opened and closed. Therefore, when the opening / closing of the door is detected, it can be considered that there may be no person in the bathroom, so that the control unit 123 satisfies the above-mentioned absence condition.

On the other hand, if any of the determinations in steps S221 to S223 is YES, and if any of the determinations in S226 to S230 is YES, the control unit 123 assumes that the above absentee condition is not satisfied (S233, S234). , The determination in step S204 of FIG. 4B is set to NO.

After it is determined in step S232 that the absence condition is satisfied, and after it is determined in step S234 that the absence condition is not satisfied, the control unit 123 ends the timing (S235).

With reference to FIG. 4B again, when the reception of voice input is stopped in S205, the process returns to the process of step S201. After that, the process of starting the reception of the voice input in steps S202 and S203 and the process of stopping the reception of the voice input in steps S204 and S205 are alternately repeated.

Further, the hot water supply device 10 may be provided with a function for monitoring the safety of the bather. In the present embodiment, as such a function, a bathing monitoring function for confirming the safety of the bather is provided in the hot water supply device 10 when the bather continues to take a bath for a long time. .. This function will be described below.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the control executed by the bathroom remote controller 12 when the bathing monitoring function is operated.

When the control unit 123 of the bathroom remote control 12 receives the notification of the start of bathing from the bathing / exit detecting unit 111a of the water heater 11 (S301: YES), the control unit 123 activates the bathing timer unit 123a (S302) to count the bathing timer unit 123a. It is determined whether or not the value (timekeeping time) has reached a predetermined set time (S303). Here, the set time may be set by a default value, or may be set by the user by a predetermined setting operation.

When a notification that the bather has left the bathtub 2 is received from the bathing / exit detecting unit 111a (S307: YES) before the count value of the bathing timer unit 123a reaches the set time (S303: NO), the control unit 123 ends the bathing timer unit 123a (S308), and ends the process.

On the other hand, when the count value of the bathing timer unit 123a reaches the set time (S303: YES) without the bather leaving the bathtub 2 (S307: NO), the control unit 123 indicates that the bathing state has continued for the set time or longer. The safety confirmation unit 123c transmits a long-time bathing notification indicating (a long bathing input has occurred) to the kitchen remote control 13 (S304). Then, the control unit 123 ends the time counting of the bathing timer unit 123a (S308), and ends the process.

Further, the control unit 123 monitors by the timer extension unit 123b whether or not a sound of a predetermined level or higher is detected via the microphone 127 during the control of FIG. 7 (S305). The timer extension unit 123b executes a process of extending the count of the bathing timer unit 123a when a sound of a predetermined level or higher is detected (S305: YES) (S306).

8 (a) and 8 (b) are time charts showing the timer extension process executed in step S306 of FIG. 7. For convenience, in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the time axis on the vertical axis is shown more compressed than the time axis on the horizontal axis.

8 (a) and 8 (b) show changes in the count value (timekeeping time) in the bathing timer unit 123a. Here, bathing in the bathtub 2 is started at time t0, and the determination in step S305 of FIG. 7 is YES at time t1. After that, at time t2, the count value of the bathing timer unit 123a has reached the set times Tth1 and Tth2.

In the example of FIG. 8A, the bathing timer unit 123a is reset in step S306 of FIG. As a result, the count value of the bathing timer unit 123a increases with the passage of time from time t0 to time t1, and is reset to the initial value (zero) at time t1. After that, the count value of the bathing timer unit 123a increases with the passage of time from the initial value, and reaches the set time Tth1 at the time t2. Therefore, in this example, at time t2, the determination in step S303 of FIG. 7 becomes YES, and in step S304, the safety confirmation unit 123c transmits a long-time bathing notification to the kitchen remote controller 13.

If the bather leaves the bathtub 2 between the time t1 and the time t2, the determination in step S307 of FIG. 7 becomes YES, and the safety confirmation unit 123c sends a long-time bathing notification to the kitchen remote controller 13. Instead, the bathing timer unit 123a is reset and the process ends. Further, if the determination in step S305 of FIG. 7 becomes YES again between the time t1 and the time t2, the bathing timer unit 123a is reset again in step S306, and the subsequent time counting is performed.

In the example of FIG. 8B, in step S306 of FIG. 7, the count value of the bathing timer unit 123a is decremented by a predetermined value. As a result, the count value of the bathing timer unit 123a increases with the passage of time from time t0 to time t1, and is decreased by Δt at time t1. After that, the count value of the bathing timer unit 123a increases with the passage of time from the value decremented by Δt, and reaches the set time Tth2 at the time t2. Therefore, in this example, at time t2, the determination in step S303 of FIG. 7 becomes YES, and in step S304, the safety confirmation unit 123c transmits a long-time bathing notification to the kitchen remote controller 13.

Also in this case, if the bather leaves the bathtub 2 between the time t1 and the time t2, the determination in step S307 of FIG. 7 becomes YES, and the safety confirmation unit 123c sends a long-time bathing notification to the kitchen remote controller 13. Without this, the bathing timer unit 123a is reset and the process ends. Further, if the determination in step S305 of FIG. 7 becomes YES again between the time t1 and the time t2, the count value of the bathing timer unit 123a is reduced by Δt again in step S306, and the subsequent timekeeping is performed. Will be done.

In the example of FIG. 8B, the initial set time Tth1 is changed to the set time Tth2 according to the extension of the bathing timer unit 123a. For example, the set time Tth2 is a value obtained by adding Δt to the set time Tth1. As a result, the long-time bathing notification is transmitted at the same timing as in FIG. 8A. When the determination in step S305 of FIG. 7 becomes YES again after the time t1, the set time Tth2 is increased to the set time Tth3 by the same processing, and the set time Tth3 and the count value of the bathing timer unit 123a are compared. May be done.

The method of resetting the set time in the example of FIG. 8B is not limited to the method of adding Δt, and may be a method of adding a value other than Δt. Further, in the example of FIG. 8B, the set time does not necessarily have to be changed, and the initial set time Tth1 may be used as it is. Alternatively, in the example of FIG. 8B, the set time is set in advance longer than that of the example of FIG. 8A, and the set time and the bathing timer unit 123a are set regardless of whether or not the bathing timer unit 123a is extended. The count value may be compared.

FIG. 9A is a flowchart showing the control of the kitchen remote controller 13 when the bathing monitoring function is operated.

When the control unit 133 of the kitchen remote controller 13 receives the long-time bathing notification transmitted in step S104 of FIG. 7 (S401: YES), the control unit 133 executes a process of accepting whether or not to confirm the safety of the bather (S402). .. In the process of step S402, the control unit 133 causes the display input unit 131 to display, for example, the reception screen 300 shown in FIG. 9B, and further, a voice indicating that a long-time bathing has occurred from the speaker 126. Is output.

The reception screen 300 includes a message 301 for notifying that the set time has elapsed while in the bathing state, and buttons 302 and 303 for selecting whether or not to call the bather. The user operates the button 302 when confirming the safety of the bather, and operates the button 303 when confirming the safety of the bather. When the button 302 is operated (S403: YES), the control unit 133 transmits a confirmation command to the bathroom remote controller 12 (S404). On the other hand, when the button 303 is operated (S403: NO), the control unit 133 ends the process without transmitting the confirmation command.

FIG. 10A is a flowchart showing the control of the bathroom remote controller 12 when the bathing monitoring function is operated. The process of FIG. 10A is executed by the control unit 123 of the bathroom remote controller 12 by the function of the safety confirmation unit 123c.

When the control unit 123 of the bathroom remote controller 12 receives the confirmation command from the kitchen remote controller 13 (S321: YES), the control unit 123 executes the confirmation process by the function of the safety confirmation unit 123c (S322). Specifically, the control unit 123 outputs a voice for inquiring about the situation from the speaker 126. As a result, as shown in FIG. 11A, the inquiry voice is output from the voice window 12a. For example, a voice asking a person in the bathroom "Is it okay?" Is output from the speaker 126 of FIG. 2 through the voice window 12a.

Further, in order to receive a response from the bather, the control unit 123 operates any button arranged on the input unit 122 of the bathroom remote controller 12, or sounds to the microphone 127, as shown in FIG. 11 (b). A message voice prompting the bather to respond by input is output from the speaker 126 through the voice window 12a. In response to this message, the bather operates any button arranged on the input unit 122 as shown in FIG. 11C when there is no abnormality in himself / herself. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 11 (d), say "it's okay". In response to this, the control unit 123 transmits a response indicating that the bather is normal to the kitchen remote controller 13.

On the other hand, when the bather has an abnormality, the bather cannot properly respond to the questions shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B. For example, when the bather is faint in the bathtub 2, the bather cannot operate the button of the input unit 122. In addition, when the bather is in poor physical condition, he / she utters "No" as shown in FIG. 11 (e). In this case, after outputting the message voice of FIG. 11B, the control unit 123 determines that a predetermined time (for example, several tens of seconds) has elapsed without any operation on the input unit 122, or that it is abnormal. At the timing of receiving the indicated voice, a response indicating that an abnormality has occurred in the bather is transmitted to the kitchen remote controller 13. At this time, the control unit 123 may output a message from the speaker 126 via the voice window 12a to notify the kitchen remote controller 13 of the abnormality.

Returning to FIG. 10A, when the bather responds to the safety inquiry (S323: YES), the control unit 123 operates the button of the input unit 122 as shown in FIG. 11C. If there is (S324: YES), or if there is an input of voice indicating normality (for example, "OK" or "OK") as shown in FIG. 11 (d) (S325: NO). The function of the safety confirmation unit 123c transmits a normal notification indicating that there is no abnormality in the bather to the kitchen remote controller 13 (S326), and ends the process. The voice of the bather is collected by the microphone 127 and recognized by the voice recognition unit 127b.

On the other hand, when the predetermined time elapses without a response from the bather to the calling operation (S323: NO), or as shown in FIG. 11 (e), the control unit 123 gives a voice indicating that it is abnormal (for example,). , "No", etc.) (S325: YES), the function of the safety confirmation unit 123c sends an abnormality notification indicating that there is an abnormality in the bather to the kitchen remote controller 13 (S327), and processes it. To finish.

FIG. 10B is a flowchart showing the control in the kitchen remote controller 13 when the notification transmitted in steps S326 and S327 of FIG. 10A is received.

When the control unit 133 of the kitchen remote controller 13 receives the normal notification from the bathroom remote controller 12 (S411: YES), the control unit 133 executes the normal notification process indicating that the bather is normal (S412), and the abnormal notification from the bathroom remote controller 12 (S413: YES), an abnormality notification process indicating that an abnormality has occurred in the bather is executed (S414).

Specifically, in the normal notification process (S412), the control unit 133 transmits a message voice notifying the bather that there is no abnormality through the voice window 13a as shown in FIG. 12A. Output from 136, and in the abnormality notification process (S414), as shown in FIG. 12B, a message voice notifying the bather that an abnormality has occurred is output from the speaker 136 via the voice window 13a. .. In addition to these message voices, a screen for notifying normality or abnormality may be further displayed on the display input unit 131.

With these notifications, the user in the house can take appropriate measures according to the condition of the bather. In this way, the control unit 133 ends the process shown in FIG. 10 (b).

<Effect of Embodiment 1>
According to the first embodiment, the following effects can be achieved.

As shown in FIG. 4B, the acceptance of voice input via the microphone 127 has started because the existence condition that defines the possibility that a person may be present in the bathroom is satisfied (S202: YES). (S203), and the absence condition that stipulates that a person may not be present in the bathroom is satisfied (S204: YES), the reception of voice input via the microphone 127 is stopped (S205). .. As a result, when there is no person in the bathroom, the voice input is not accepted, so that it becomes difficult for the microphone 127 to pick up an unintended sound, and it is possible to prevent the water heater 11 from malfunctioning.

The reception of voice input is started by supplying power to the microphone 127 by the microphone power supply 127a, and the reception of voice input is stopped by stopping the power supply to the microphone 127. As a result, when there is no person in the bathroom and no voice input is performed, it becomes difficult to supply power to the microphone 127, and it becomes difficult for the microphone 127 to operate. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the wasteful power consumption by the microphone 127 while preventing the malfunction of the water heater 11.

As shown in FIG. 5, the existence condition includes that the water heater 11 is in the operation on state, and as shown in FIG. 6, the absence condition is that the water heater 11 is not in the operation on state, that is, the operation. Includes being in the off state. By monitoring the operating state of the water heater 11 in this way, it is possible to appropriately determine the possibility of the presence or absence of a person in the bathroom.

As shown in FIG. 5, the existence condition includes that the presence of a person is detected by the output from the motion sensor 128, and as shown in FIG. 6, the absence condition is from the motion sensor 128. Includes that the state in which the presence of a person is not detected by the output of is continued for a predetermined time. By detecting the person by the motion sensor 128 in this way, it is possible to appropriately determine the possibility of the presence or absence of the person in the bathroom.

As shown in FIG. 5, the existence condition includes that the operation for the bathroom remote controller 12 is performed, and as shown in FIG. 6, the absence condition is a state in which the operation for the bathroom remote controller 12 is not performed for a predetermined time. Includes continuing. By monitoring the operation of the bathroom remote controller 12 in this way, it is possible to appropriately determine the possibility of the presence or absence of a person in the bathroom.

As shown in FIG. 5, the existence condition includes that bathing is detected by the bathing / exit detecting unit 111a, and as shown in FIG. 6, the absence condition is caused by the bathing / exiting detection unit 111a. Includes that a bath has been detected. By monitoring the presence or absence of bathing in the bathtub 2 in this way, it is possible to appropriately determine the possibility of the presence or absence of a person in the bathroom.

As shown in FIG. 5, the existence condition includes the hot water discharge operation detected by the flow rate sensor (hot water sensor) 115, and the absence condition includes the hot water discharge operation by the flow rate sensor 115 as shown in FIG. Includes that an outage has been detected. By monitoring the presence or absence of hot water from the water heater 11 in this way, it is possible to appropriately determine the possibility of the presence or absence of a person in the bathroom.

As shown in FIG. 5, the existence condition includes that the opening / closing sensor 129 detects the opening / closing of the door when the power supply is stopped, and as shown in FIG. 6, the absence condition opens / closes when the power supply is stopped. It includes that the opening / closing of the door is detected by the sensor 129. By monitoring the opening and closing of the door in this way, it is possible to appropriately determine the possibility of the presence or absence of a person in the bathroom.

As shown in FIG. 7, the count of the bathing timer unit 123a is extended (S306) based on the detection of the voice generated by the bather and the sound made by the input person (S305: YES). Therefore, even if the bathing continues for the initially set time, if it can be considered that there is no abnormality in the bather by detecting the sound, the safety of the bather is not confirmed. Therefore, no extra safety confirmation is made to the bather, and no extra burden of response is forced on the bather. Further, in this case as well, since the count of the bathing timer unit 123a is only extended, the long-time bathing can be appropriately monitored based on the timed time of the bathing timer unit 123a, and the safety of the bather can be monitored. ..

<Embodiment 2>
In the first embodiment, the user in the house is notified via the kitchen remote controller 13 that the bathing has continued for a long time. On the other hand, in the second embodiment, this notification is performed via the mobile terminal device.

In the second embodiment, the hot water supply system 1 corresponds to the "bath system" described in the claims.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the configuration of the hot water supply system 1 according to the second embodiment.

The hot water supply system 1 includes a hot water supply device 10 and a server 50. In the second embodiment, the kitchen remote controller 13 can wirelessly communicate with the router 20. The hot water supply device 10 can be remotely controlled by the mobile terminal device 30 via the router 20 and the external communication network 40.

The router 20 is a communication repeater for connecting each device existing in the building (here, the home H10) to the external communication network 40. When the mobile terminal device 30 exists in the home H10, the mobile terminal device 30 is connected to the router 20 by wireless communication and can communicate with the server 50. The mobile terminal device 30 is, for example, a mobile phone. In addition, the mobile terminal device 30 may be another portable terminal device such as a portable tablet terminal. The external communication network 40 is, for example, the Internet.

A server 50 for managing remote control of the hot water supply device 10 is connected to the external communication network 40. The kitchen remote controller 13 communicates with the server 50 via the router 20 and the external communication network 40. When the mobile terminal device 30 exists in the home H10, the mobile terminal device 30 communicates with the server 50 via the router 20 and the external communication network 40. When the mobile terminal device 30 is outside the home, the mobile terminal device 30 is connected to the external communication network 40 via a router 60 or a base station 70 installed outside, and communicates with the server 50.

The application program of the hot water supply system 1 is downloaded from the server 50 and installed in the kitchen remote controller 13 and the portable terminal device 30. This application program contains address information (for example, an IP address) for accessing the server 50. The kitchen remote controller 13 and the mobile terminal device 30 access the server 50 and perform communication based on this address information.

The address information of the kitchen remote controller 13 is transmitted to the server 50 and registered in the server 50 at the time of initial setting. At the same time, the ID information (identification information) of the kitchen remote controller 13 is transmitted from the kitchen remote controller 13 to the server 50 and registered in the server 50. Further, the portable terminal device 30 capable of remotely controlling the hot water supply device 10 is registered in the server 50 in association with the hot water supply device 10. Specifically, the ID information of the hot water supply device 10 and the ID information and address information of the mobile terminal device 30 are associated with each other and registered in the server 50.

By registering the information about the mobile terminal device 30 in the server 50 in this way, the user of the mobile terminal device 30 can use the mobile terminal device 30 to supply the hot water supply device 10 both inside and outside the house. Remote control can be performed.

That is, regardless of whether the mobile terminal device 30 is located inside the home H10 or outside the home, the setting request input from the user to the mobile terminal device 30 is once transmitted to the server 50 via the external communication network 40. .. In response to this, the server 50 transmits the received setting request to the hot water supply device 10 previously associated with the mobile terminal device 30 that has received the setting request. As a result, the setting request is transmitted to the kitchen remote controller 13 of the corresponding hot water supply device 10 via the external communication network 40 and the router 20. In this way, the setting of the content requested by the user is applied to the hot water supply device 10 by remote control.

Further, the state information of the hot water supply device 10 is transmitted from the kitchen remote controller 13 to the server 50 via the router 20 at any time in a predetermined cycle. The state information is information indicating the current setting state and operating state of the hot water supply device 10. The mobile terminal device 30 can acquire the latest status information from the server 50 and display it on the display input unit 31 (for example, a touch panel) by the application program of the hot water supply system 1. As a result, the user of the portable terminal device 30 can monitor the state of the hot water supply device 10 both inside the house H10 and outside the house.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a circuit block of each device constituting the hot water supply system 1.

The configuration of the water heater 11 and the bathroom remote controller 12 is the same as that of the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, the wireless communication unit 138 is added to the kitchen remote controller 13. Other configurations of the kitchen remote controller 13 are the same as those in the first embodiment. The wireless communication unit 138 is a wireless communication module capable of wireless communication with the router 20. The address information and ID information of the wireless communication unit 138 are registered in the server 50 as the address information and ID information of the kitchen remote controller 13.

The server 50 includes a control unit 501, a storage unit 502, and a communication unit 503. The control unit 501 includes a CPU and performs predetermined control according to a program stored in the storage unit 502. The storage unit 502 includes a memory and a hard disk, and stores a predetermined control program and database. The communication unit 503 performs predetermined control according to the control from the control unit 501.

15 (a), (b) and 16 (a) are flowcharts showing the controls executed by the kitchen remote controller 13, the server 50 and the mobile terminal device 30 when the bathing monitoring function according to the second embodiment is operated, respectively. Is.

The control executed by the bathroom remote controller 12 when the bathing monitoring function is operated is the same as that of the first embodiment. Further, the control of FIG. 16A is executed by the control unit (not shown) of the mobile terminal device 30 by the application program of the hot water supply system 1.

In the flowchart of FIG. 15A, steps S402 and S403 of FIG. 9A are replaced with steps S421 and S422, respectively. When the control unit 133 of the kitchen remote controller 13 receives the long-time bathing notification from the water heater 11 (S401: YES), the control unit 133 transmits the received long-time bathing notification to the server 50 (S421).

When the control unit 501 of the server 50 receives the long-time bathing notification from the kitchen remote controller 13 (S501: YES) with reference to FIG. 15B, the received long-time bathing notification is associated with the kitchen remote controller 13. It is transmitted to the portable terminal device 30 (S502).

With reference to FIG. 16A, when the mobile terminal device 30 receives the bathing notification for a long time from the server 50 (S601: YES), the mobile terminal device 30 executes a process of accepting whether or not to confirm the safety of the bather (S602). ). In the process of step S602, the mobile terminal device 30 causes the display input unit 31, for example, pop-up display of the reception screen 310 shown in FIG. 16B, and further indicates that the speaker has taken a bath for a long time. Output audio. The reception screen 310 includes the same message 311 and buttons 312 and 313 as the reception screen 300. The user of the mobile terminal device 30 operates the button 312 when confirming the safety of the bather, and operates the button 313 when not confirming the safety of the bather.

When the button 312 is operated (S603: YES), the mobile terminal device 30 transmits a confirmation command to the server 50 (S604). On the other hand, when the button 313 is operated (S603: NO), the mobile terminal device 30 ends the process without transmitting the confirmation command.

Returning to FIG. 15B, when the control unit 501 of the server 50 receives the confirmation command from any of the mobile terminal devices 30 that have sent the bathing notification for a long time (S503: YES), the control unit 501 transmits the confirmation command to the kitchen remote controller 13. Then (S504), the process is terminated. On the other hand, if the bathing notification is not received from any of the mobile terminal devices 30 for a long time within the predetermined time (S503: NO), the control unit 501 ends the process without transmitting the confirmation command to the kitchen remote controller 13. ..

With reference to FIG. 15A, when the control unit 133 of the kitchen remote controller 13 receives the confirmation command transmitted in step S504 of FIG. 15B (S422: YES), the control unit 133 transmits the confirmation command to the bathroom remote controller 12. (S404). On the other hand, if the bathing notification is not received from the server 50 for a long time within the predetermined time (S422: NO), the control unit 133 ends the process without transmitting the confirmation command to the bathroom remote controller 12.

The control of the bathroom remote controller 12 when the confirmation command is received is the same as in FIG. 10A. As a result, the confirmation processes shown in FIGS. 11A to 11E are performed, and the safety confirmation result (normal notification / abnormality notification) is transmitted to the kitchen remote controller 13. The control unit 133 of the kitchen remote controller 13 transmits the received safety confirmation result (normal notification / abnormality notification) to the server 50. The control unit 501 of the server 50 transmits the received safety confirmation result (normal notification / abnormality notification) to the mobile terminal device 30 associated with the kitchen remote controller 13.

FIG. 17A is a flowchart showing the control performed by the mobile terminal device 30 when the safety confirmation result (normal notification / abnormality notification) is received. This control is also performed by the application program of the hot water supply system 1 in the control unit (not shown) of the mobile terminal device 30.

When the mobile terminal device 30 receives the normal notification (S611: YES), it executes the normal notification process (S612), and when it receives the abnormal notification (S613: YES), it executes the abnormal notification process (S614). ). For example, the mobile terminal device 30 causes the display input unit 31 to display the notification screen 320 shown in FIG. 17B in normal processing (S612), and displays the notification screen shown in FIG. 17C in abnormal processing (S614). The 330 is displayed on the display input unit 31.

The notification screen 320 includes a message 321 indicating that the bather has no abnormality, and a button 322 for approval. In addition, the notification screen 330 includes a message 331 indicating that an abnormality may have occurred in the bather, and a button 332 for approval. By referring to these screens, the user of the mobile terminal device 30 can grasp the normality / abnormality of the bather. As a result, the user can take appropriate measures according to the condition of the bather.

In this way, the mobile terminal device 30 ends the process shown in FIG. 17 (a).

In the hot water supply device 10 in the hot water supply system 1 of the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the voice input to the microphone 127 by the processes of FIGS. 4 (a), 4 (b), 5 and 6 is performed. Based on this, a function for operating the water heater 11 is provided.

As described above, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained in the second embodiment as well.

<Change example>
In the first and second embodiments, the reception screen for accepting the safety confirmation operation not only when the bathroom remote controller 12 sends the bathing notification for a long time but also by the user's operation is the display input unit 131 of the kitchen remote controller 13 or the mobile terminal device. It may be displayed on the display input unit 31 of 30. Also in this case, based on the safety confirmation operation, the control unit 133 of the kitchen remote controller 13 transmits a confirmation command, and the control unit 123 of the bathroom remote controller 12 performs the process of FIG. 10 (a). Further, the kitchen remote controller 13 performs the process of FIG. 10 (b) and the process of FIG. 15 (a), and the mobile terminal device 30 performs the process of FIG. 17 (a).

When the kitchen remote controller 13 receives a bathing notification for a long time while the above reception screen is displayed on the display input unit 131 of the kitchen remote controller 13 or the display input unit 31 of the mobile terminal device 30, the kitchen remote controller 13 The control unit 133 performs a process for displaying on the reception screen indicating that the bath is for a long time. As a result, for example, the button for the safety confirmation operation blinks on the reception screen, or the color of the button changes. Alternatively, a message appears on the reception screen.

In the first and second embodiments, the reception of voice input is started and stopped by turning on and off the microphone power supply 127a, that is, operating and stopping the microphone 127. However, the microphone 127 is kept in an operating state, and the voice recognition unit 127b is operated and stopped, so that the control unit 123 starts and stops accepting voice input (accepting and blocking voice). May be done.

Further, in the first and second embodiments, the existence conditions are that the water heater 11 is in the operation on state, that the bathroom remote controller 12 is operated, and that the presence of a person is detected by the output from the motion sensor 128. That, bathing was detected by the bathing / exiting detection unit 111a, hot water discharge operation was detected by the flow rate sensor 115, and opening / closing of the door was detected by the opening / closing sensor 129 when the power supply was stopped. The condition was used. However, even if not all of these conditions are used, at least one condition may be used.

Similarly, in the first and second embodiments, the absence condition is that the water heater 11 is in the operation off state, the state in which the bathroom remote controller 12 is not operated continues for a predetermined time, and the output from the motion sensor 128. The state in which the presence of a person is not detected continues for a predetermined time, the bath exit is detected by the bath entry / exit detection unit 111a, the stop of the hot water discharge operation is detected by the flow rate sensor 115, and the open / close sensor is used when power is supplied. All the conditions under which the opening and closing of the door was detected by 129 were used. However, even if not all of these conditions are used, at least one condition may be used.

Further, in the first and second embodiments, the hot water supply device 10 may have an intercom function capable of making a call between the bathroom remote controller 12 and the kitchen remote controller 13. In this case, microphones 127, 137 and speakers 126, 136 are used for the intercom function. The bathroom remote controller 12 and the kitchen remote controller 13 are provided with an intercom processing unit. When the interphone function is executed, the interphone processing unit modulates the audio signal input from the microphones 127 and 137 and outputs it to the communication units 125 and 135, and demodulates the signal received from the communication units 125 and 135 into an audio signal. Is output to the speakers 126 and 136. When the hot water supply device 10 has an intercom function, the hot water supply device 10 may be configured not to have the voice operation function of the water heater 11 described above.

Further, in the first and second embodiments, the existence condition includes that the water heater 11 is in the operation-on state. However, the existence condition may include that the water heater 11 is in the operation-on state and the bath automatic function is executed. In this case, the absence condition may include the fact that the bath automatic function has been stopped.

Further, in the first embodiment, the bathing / exit detecting unit 111a is provided in the water heater 11, and the bathing timer unit 123a, the timer extension unit 123b, and the safety confirmation unit 123c are provided in the bathroom remote controller 12, but the arrangement of these parts is provided. Is not limited to this. For example, the bathing timer unit 123a, the timer extension unit 123b, and the safety confirmation unit 123c may be provided on the kitchen remote controller 13. In this case, the sound detection information required for the determination in step S305 of FIG. 7 is sequentially transmitted from the bathroom remote controller 12 to the kitchen remote controller 13. The bath entry / exit detection unit 111a may also be arranged in a device other than the water heater 11. In this case, the detection result of the water level sensor 114 is sequentially transmitted to the device. When a device other than the kitchen remote controller 13 is arranged in the house, all or any of the bathing / exit detecting unit 111a, the bathing timer unit 123a, the timer extension unit 123b, and the safety confirmation unit 123c may be arranged in this device. ..

Similarly, in the second embodiment as well, all or any of the bathing / exiting detection unit 111a, the bathing timer unit 123a, the timer extension unit 123b, and the safety confirmation unit 123c may be arranged on the server 50. In this case, the information required for processing may be transmitted from the hot water supply device 10 to the server 50 at any time.

Further, in the first and second embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the count value of the bathing timer unit 123a is adjusted to extend the count of the bathing timer unit 123a, but the bathing is performed. The extension form of the count of the timer unit 123a is not limited to this. For example, the timer extension unit 123b may extend the set time to extend the count of the bathing timer unit 123a without adjusting the count value of the bathing timer unit 123a.

Further, in the above-described first and second embodiments, the response to the safety confirmation is performed by operating any button of the input unit 122 and the voice from the bather, but the response method to the safety confirmation is not limited to this. No. For example, the movement of the bather may respond to the call. In this case, the movement of the bather is detected by the output of the motion sensor 128.

Further, in the second embodiment, each notification is performed by displaying various screens on the display input unit 31 of the mobile terminal device 30, but the notification method is not limited to this. For example, each notification may be performed by outputting a voice indicating the content of the notification from the speaker of the mobile terminal device 30.

Further, in the second embodiment, the safety confirmation is received by the mobile terminal device 30, but the safety confirmation may be further received by the kitchen remote controller 13. In this case, the control unit 133 of the kitchen remote controller 13 may perform the control of FIG. 9 (a) in addition to the control of FIG. 15 (a).

Further, in the second embodiment, the kitchen remote controller 13 is provided with the wireless communication unit 138, but the wireless communication unit may be provided in the water heater 11 and the water heater 11 may be connected to the router 20. Alternatively, a control unit provided with a wireless communication unit other than the water heater 11, the bathroom remote controller 12, and the kitchen remote controller 13 may be arranged in the hot water supply device 10, and the control unit may be connected to the router 20. In this case, the communication control between the kitchen remote controller 13 and the server 50 in the second embodiment is performed between the control unit and the server 50.

Further, in the first embodiment, the safety confirmation is accepted by the kitchen remote controller 13, but when a sub remote controller other than the kitchen remote controller 13 is provided outside the bathroom, the safety confirmation is accepted by this sub remote controller. good. In this case, the control of the kitchen remote controller 13 in the first embodiment is performed by the sub remote controller.

Further, in the first and second embodiments, the motion sensor 128 is provided in the bathroom remote controller 12. However, the motion sensor 128 may be installed in a place other than the bathroom remote controller 12 in the bathroom.

Further, in the above-described first and second embodiments, the bathing in and out of the bathtub 2 is determined based on the water level fluctuation detected by the water level sensor 114, but other determination methods may be adopted. For example, a camera may be arranged in the bathroom, and entry / exit to / from the bathtub 2 may be determined based on an image captured by the camera.

Further, in the first and second embodiments, the presence of a person in the bathroom is detected by the output from the motion sensor 128. However, as the person detection unit, a camera may be used to detect the presence of a person. In this case, the presence of the person is detected by recognizing the person included in the output image of the camera.

Further, in the first and second embodiments, the safety is confirmed via the speaker 126 of the bathroom remote controller 12, but when a speaker other than the speaker 126 of the bathroom remote controller 12 is installed in the bathroom, the speaker is used. Safety confirmation may be performed.

Further, the configurations of various screens are not limited to the configurations shown in FIGS. 9 (b) and 16 (b) and 17 (b) and (c), and can be changed as appropriate.

Further, the counting method of the bathing timer unit 123a is not limited to the up-counting method, and may be a down-counting method. In the case of the down count method, in the control of FIG. 8A, the count value of the bathing timer unit 123a is reset to the set time Tth1 at time t1, and in the control of FIG. 8B, the bathing timer unit is reset at time t1. The count value of 123a may be increased by Δt.

Further, in the first and second embodiments, the kitchen remote controller 13 is configured to include the display input unit 131, but the kitchen remote controller 13 may include the display unit and the input unit separately.

Further, the configuration of the water heater 11 is not limited to the configuration shown in FIG. 3, and may be another configuration. For example, in the configuration of FIG. 3, the hot water in the bathtub 2 is circulated to the bath heat exchanger 222 to reheat the hot water in the bathtub 2, but the water heater 11 transfers the hot water to the bathtub. It may be configured to execute the reheating function by adding it. Further, the bath function device may be of a type in which the water stored in the bathtub is circulated to the combustor to warm the water in the bathtub.

The terminal device for remotely controlling the hot water supply device 10 may include a stationary terminal device that is not portable and is installed at a predetermined place. Further, the hot water supply device 10 is not limited to the one using gas fuel, and may be a hot water supply device using oil as fuel. The hot water supply device 10 may be of a storage type using a storage tank, or may be configured to further include a power generation unit such as a fuel cell.

Further, in the above-described first and second embodiments, the hot water supply device 10 having a hot water supply function as well as a bath related function is exemplified as a bath function device that executes a predetermined bath function for the bathtub. It may be a device capable of executing only.

In addition, various modifications of the embodiment of the present invention can be made as appropriate within the scope of claims.

1 Hot water supply system (bath system)
2 Bathtub 10 Hot water supply device (bath function device)
11 Water heater 12 Remote controller (operator)
30 Mobile terminal device 40 External communication network 50 Server 111a Bathing / exit detection unit 123a Bathing timer unit 123b Timer extension unit 123c Safety confirmation unit 115 Flow rate sensor (hot water sensor)
127 Microphone 127a Microphone power supply (power supply)
128 Motion sensor (human detector)
129 Open / close sensor

Claims (10)

With a water heater
An operator installed in the bathroom that can communicate with the water heater,
The microphone provided on the actuator and
A control unit that performs control based on voice input via the microphone is provided.
The control unit
When the existence condition that defines the possibility that a person may be present in the bathroom is satisfied, the reception of the voice input is started.
The reception of the voice input is stopped because the absence condition that stipulates that there may be no person in the bathroom is satisfied.
A bath function device characterized by this. Equipped with a power supply that supplies power to the microphone
The control unit
By making the power supply supply power, the reception of the voice input is started.
By stopping the power supply to the power supply, the reception of the voice input is stopped.
A bath function device characterized by this. In the bath function device according to claim 1 or 2.
The existence condition includes that the water heater is in the operation on state.
The absence condition includes that the water heater is in an operation-off state.
A bath function device characterized by this. In the bath function device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
It is installed in the bathroom and has a human detection unit for detecting people.
The existence condition includes that the presence of a person is detected by the output from the person detection unit.
The absence condition includes a state in which the presence of a person is not detected by the output from the person detection unit for a predetermined time.
A bath function device characterized by this. In the bath function device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.
The existence condition includes that an operation has been performed on the actuator.
The absence condition includes a state in which no operation is performed on the actuator for a predetermined time.
A bath function device characterized by this. In the bath function device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.
Equipped with an entry / exit detector that detects the entry / exit of a person into the bathtub in the bathroom
The existence condition includes that bathing is detected by the bathing / exit detecting unit.
The absence condition includes the detection of bathing by the bathing detection unit.
A bath function device characterized by this. In the bath function device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.
It is equipped with a hot water discharge sensor that detects the presence or absence of hot water discharge operation by the water heater.
The existence condition includes that the hot water discharge operation is detected by the hot water discharge sensor.
The absence condition includes the detection of the stop of the hot water discharge operation by the hot water discharge sensor.
A bath function device characterized by this. In the bath function device according to any one of claims 1 to 7.
It is equipped with an open / close sensor that detects the opening / closing of the door for entering / exiting the bathroom.
The existence condition includes that the opening / closing of the door is detected by the opening / closing sensor when the reception of the voice input is stopped.
The absence condition includes that the opening / closing of the door is detected by the opening / closing sensor at the time of receiving the voice input.
A bath function device characterized by this. In the bath function device according to claim 6,
A bathing timer unit that starts counting when bathing is detected by the bathing / exit detection unit, and a bathing timer unit.
A safety confirmation unit that executes a process for confirming the safety of the bather based on the fact that the bathing timer unit counts a predetermined set time.
A timer extension unit for extending the count of the bathing timer unit based on the detection of sound via the microphone is provided.
A bath function device characterized by this. A server connected to an external communication network and
The bath function device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, which can be remotely controlled by a mobile terminal device via the server.
A bath system featuring that.

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