JP3709740B2 - Hygiene device and toilet environment control method - Google Patents

Description

つまり、式（１）で求めた累積値Ｓｍ１（ｎ）は前後２列のブロックの値を累積した値であるが（図１６参照）、式（２）によって求められる累積値Ｓｍ２（ｎ）は更に外側のブロックも加えた合計４列のブロックの値を累積した値となっている。従って、Ｓｍ１（ｎ）≦Ｓｍ２（ｎ）の関係が常に成り立つ。
【０１５５】
累積値Ｓｍ１（ｎ）とＳｍ２（ｎ）が求められたら、大きい方の累積値Ｓｍ２（ｎ）の値と閾値ｔｈ１とを比較し（ステップＳ２３８）、累積値Ｓｍ２（ｎ）が閾値ｔｈ１より小さい場合はトイレ使用頻度が小さいことを示す値「０」をＦ（ｎ）に代入する（ステップＳ２４０）。尚、ここでは閾値の値は図１７で説明した値と同じものとして説明するが、新たに設定した値を用いても良く、ｔｈ１とｔｈ２とを同じ値としても構わない。
【０１５６】
累積値Ｓｍ２（ｎ）が閾値ｔｈ１より大きい場合は、今度は小さい方の累積値Ｓｍ１（ｎ）と閾値ｔｈ２とを比較して（ステップＳ２４２）、累積値Ｓｍ１（ｎ）がｔｈ２より大きい場合はトイレ使用頻度が大きいことを示す値「２」をＦ（１）に代入する（ステップＳ２４４）。いずれでもない場合はトイレ使用頻度は中程度であると判断し、使用頻度が中程度であることを示す値「１」をＦ（１）に代入する（ステップＳ２４６）。
【０１５７】
こうして制御データ枠のブロックｎのトイレ使用頻度が決定されたら、全ブロックについて決定したかを判断し（ステップＳ２４８）、未処理のブロックが残っている場合はステップＳ２３２に戻って、次のブロックについて続く一連の処理を行い、全ブロックの処理を終了している場合はトイレ使用頻度予測ルーチンを終了する。
【０１５８】
このように４列のブロックのデータを累積した値と、２列のブロックのデータを累積した値との２種類の値を用いてトイレ使用頻度を予測した場合には、次のような利点がある。先ず、４列分のブロックの累積値を用いるために、トイレ使用時間のズレに影響されにくい安定した予測をすることができる。その一方で、２列分のブロックの累積値を用いているために、短時間に集中してトイレを使用する時間帯がある場合でも適切な予測をすることができる。
【０１５９】
以上の説明では、式（２）は４列のブロックのデータを累積しているが、累積するブロックの列数は４列に限らず、例えば３列のブロックのデータを累積したり、５列のブロックのデータを累積する等しても構わない。
【０１６０】
また、式（１）あるいは式（２）による計算では学習データ枠の各ブロックのデータを同じ重みで累積したが、各ブロック毎のデータを異なる重みで累積することもできる。例えば、前述の式（１）に替えて次の式（３）を用い、あるいは前述の式（２）に替えて次の式（４）を用いてもよい。

ここで、ｋ，ｋ’は重み計数であり、１より大きな数とする。前述したように、制御データ枠のブロックｎの値（Ｆ（ｎ））は、学習データ枠のブロックｎの値（Ｘ（ｎ，ｍ））とブロック（ｎ＋１）の値（Ｘ（ｎ＋１、ｍ））の累積値に基づいて決定される。Ｘ（ｎ、ｍ）はＦ（ｎ）に対して、半ブロックだけ時間的に遅れたデータであり、Ｘ（ｎ＋１、ｍ）は半ブロックだけ先行するデータとなっている。従って、例えば（式３）を用いてＦ（ｎ）の値を決定すれば、時間的に先行するデータに比重をおいて決定することになり、常に早め早めに制御することになるので好ましい結果が得られる。
【０１６１】
同様に（式４）を用いてＦ（ｎ）の値を決定すれば、時間的に近接するブロックのデータに比重をおいて決定することになり、適切に決定することができる。
【０１６２】
以上説明したように、学習データ枠の各ブロック毎に異なる重みをつけて計算することで、トイレ環境をより快適に制御することが可能となるが、何日前に登録されたデータかによって異なる重みを付けることによっても、好ましい効果を得ることができる。
【０１６３】
図１８のフローチャートを用いて説明した場合を例にとって説明すれば、式（３），式（４）に替えて次の式（５），式（６）を用いればよい。

ここで制御数ｍは１〜８の整数であり、何日前に蓄積されたデータかを識別するために使用されている。α（ｍ）は重み係数である。
【０１６４】
図１９は、重み係数α（ｍ）の値を設定する考え方を示す説明図である。図１９では、
α（ｍ）＝α１（ｍ）＋α２（ｍ）
という計算式によって重み係数α（ｍ）を求めており、α１（ｍ），α２（ｍ）はそれぞれ次のような意味を持っている。
【０１６５】
例えば、学校が夏休みに入ったり、あるいは通勤先が変更する等、生活パターンが突然に変更される場合がある。このような突然に生じる生活パターンの変更に素早く対応して、トイレ使用頻度を適切に予測するためには、最近のトイレ使用情報を重く、古い使用情報を軽い重みを付けて評価することが適当である。α１（ｍ）はこのようなことを考慮した重み係数であり、図１９に一例を示すように、最近の蓄積データの重みは大きく、古いデータの重みは小さく設定されている。
【０１６６】
また、平日と休日とでは異なる生活パターンとなっていると考えられるように、生活パターンは通常は１週間を周期として同じパターンを繰り返す傾向があると予測される。α２（ｍ）はこのようなことを考慮した重み係数であり、図１９に一例を示すように、７日前の蓄積データの重みが大きく設定されている。
【０１６７】
以上を考慮して、重み係数α（ｍ）はα１（ｍ）とα２（ｍ）とを足し合わせた値に設定されている。こうすることによって、生活習慣の変化に素早く対応すると共に、通常の生活パターンに現れる周期的な変化に対しても適切に対応して、トイレの使用頻度を予測することが可能となる。尚、上述の例では重み係数αはα１とα２の２つの値の和として説明したが、これに限定されるものではない。すなわち、３種類以上の重み係数の和としてもよく、単一の重み係数によるものとすることもできる。
【０１６８】
（４）閾値の設定方法：
以上の説明では、閾値ｔｈ１，ｔｈ２は予め設定されているものとしたが、前述したように閾値の設定の仕方を改善することによって、トイレ使用頻度の予測をより適切にすることが可能である。本実施例では種々の方法を用いて閾値を設定することが可能となっており、それぞれの閾値設定方法について以下に説明する。
【０１６９】
閾値を設定する第１の方法は、１日当たりのトイレ使用回数に応じて閾値の値を設定する方法である。トイレ使用者の中には、めったにトイレを使用しないトイレ使用者や、あるいは頻繁に使用するトイレ使用者が存在すると思われる。例えば、ある時間帯でのトイレ使用回数が同じだったとしても、少人数の家庭にとってはトイレ使用頻度の高い時間帯に相当するが、大人数の家庭にとっては使用頻度の低い時間帯に相当するといった場合が起こり得る。従って、１日当たりの全トイレ使用回数に応じて閾値の設定を変更し、制御データ枠に設定されるトイレ使用頻度を平準化することが望ましいのである。
【０１７０】
具体的には次のようにして閾値の設定を変更している。先ず、学習データ枠に蓄積されている８日間のトイレ使用情報から、１日当たりのトイレ平均使用回数を求める。次いで、図２０に示した表を参照しながら、閾値の値を修正する。例えば、トイレ平均使用回数が５回以下の家庭は、めったにトイレを使用しない家庭と考えられるので、現在の閾値の値から２を減じた値を新たな閾値とする。こうすることで、稀にしかトイレを使用しない場合でも確実に使用を予測することが可能となる。また、トイレ平均使用回数が１２回〜１５回の家庭は、比較的頻繁にトイレを使用する家庭と考えられるので、現在の閾値の値に１を加えた値を新たな閾値として設定する。このように、トイレの平均使用回数に応じて閾値を修正すれば、家庭毎のトイレ使用形態に合わせた予測が可能となる。
【０１７１】
閾値を設定する第２の方法は、トイレ使用頻度の割合が所定の割合となるように、それぞれの閾値の値を設定する方法である。上述の第１の方法では、閾値の値を一律に修正した。例えば、２つの閾値ｔｈ１，ｔｈ２が設定されている場合は、２つの閾値を同時に修正するものとして説明した。しかし、以下に説明するように閾値毎に変更すれば、家庭毎のトイレ使用状況に応じて、より適切にトイレの使用予測を行うことが可能となる。閾値を設定する第２の方法の一例を、図２１と図２２とを用いて説明する。
【０１７２】
図２１は、トイレ使用頻度が書き込まれている制御データ枠の一部を拡大して示した説明図である。図の右側には、トイレ使用頻度大と予測されたブロック数とトイレ使用頻度小と予測されたブロック数も示されている。ここではトイレ使用頻度は、設定されている閾値ｔｈ１，ｔｈ２を用いて計算するものとしている。図２１には、例として３つのケースを想定して示している。ケース１は、ほとんどの時間帯でトイレ使用頻度大と予測されていて、使用頻度小と予測されている時間帯がほとんど存在しない場合である。つまり、ここでは制御データ枠は３２個のブロックから構成されているとしているから、トイレ使用頻度小（Ｆ（ｎ）＝０）のブロックは全体の１割にも満たず、使用頻度大（Ｆ（ｎ）＝２）のブロックは全体の３分の２以上を占めている。このような場合は、使用頻度が小か中かを判断するときの閾値ｔｈ１を、および使用頻度が中か大かを判断するときの閾値ｔｈ２を、いずれも大きくすることによって、より適切なトイレ使用頻度の分布に改善される。すなわち、閾値ｔｈ１の値を増加させることでトイレ使用頻度小の割合が増え、閾値ｔｈ２の値を増加させることで使用頻度大の割合が減少する。
【０１７３】
ケース２は、トイレ使用頻度小と予測されている割合が多すぎる場合である。つまり、全体のほとんど３分の２の時間帯でトイレ使用頻度小と予測しているが、使用頻度大と予測している割合は特に多いわけではない。このような場合は、閾値ｔｈ１の値だけを減少させることで、各使用頻度の割合を妥当な値に近づけることができる。
【０１７４】
ケース３は、トイレ使用頻度小と大の割合が多く、その結果として使用頻度中の割合が少なくなっている場合である。このような場合は、閾値ｔｈ１を減少させ、閾値ｔｈ２を増加させることで各使用頻度の割合を適切な値に改善することができる。
【０１７５】
図２２は、図２１で説明した考え方に基づいて、閾値を修正する処理の流れを示したフローチャートである。以下、フローチャートに従って説明する。初めは、設定されている閾値ｔｈ１，ｔｈ２を用いて、制御データ枠を構成する３２個のブロックのそれぞれについて、トイレ使用頻度を予測する（ステップＳ３００）。トイレ使用頻度の予測には、前述したいずれの方法を適用することも可能である。
【０１７６】
次いで、トイレ使用頻度小と予測されたブロックの数Ｎ１を計数し（ステップＳ３０２）、Ｎ１と予め設定されている基準値Ｃｒ１ｕとを比較する（ステップＳ３０４）。つまり、使用頻度小と予測されたブロックの数が多すぎないかどうかを判断するのである。Ｎ１が基準値Ｃｒ１ｕより大きい場合は、使用頻度小のブロックが多すぎると判断して、閾値ｔｈ１から所定値ｄｔｈだけ減少させた値を新たな閾値ｔｈ１とする（ステップＳ３０６）。
【０１７７】
Ｎ１が基準値Ｃｒ１ｕより小さい場合は、今度は、予め設定されている基準値Ｃｒ１ＬとＮ１とを比較する（ステップＳ３０８）。つまり、使用頻度小と予測されたブロックの数が少なすぎないかどうかを判断するのである。Ｎ１が基準値Ｃｒ１Ｌより小さい場合は、使用頻度小のブロックが少なすぎると判断して、閾値ｔｈ１に所定値ｄｔｈだけ増加させた値を新たな閾値ｔｈ１とする（ステップＳ３１０）。Ｎ１が基準値Ｃｒ１Ｌより大きい場合は、閾値ｔｈ１の値は適切な閾値であると判断することができる。閾値ｔｈ１が適切であると判断された場合は、閾値変更処理を行うコンピュータ（本実施例ではＤＣ制御ユニット７００内のＣＰＵ７０２）内のレジスタに、ｔｈ１はＯＫである旨のフラグをセットする（ステップＳ３１２）。
【０１７８】
以上のような処理を、トイレ使用頻度大と予測されたブロックについても行い（ステップＳ３１４からステップＳ３２４）、閾値ｔｈ１，ｔｈ２がいずれも適切と判断されているか否かを調べる（ステップＳ３２６）。どちらかの閾値がまだ適切な値になっていない場合は、ステップＳ３００に戻って続く一連の処理を繰り返す。このような処理を繰り返すことにより、最終的にはどちらの閾値も適切な値に修正され、閾値設定処理を終了する。尚、図２２では説明が煩雑になるのを避けるため、どちらかの閾値がまだ適切な値になっていない場合はステップＳ３００以下の処理を繰り返すものとして説明したが、どちらかの閾値は適切な値に修正されている場合は、該当する処理をスキップするようにしても構わないのはもちろんである。
【０１７９】
以上説明してきたトイレ使用情報の学習においては、１日を４５分毎の３２のブロックに分割し、各ブロックでのトイレ使用回数を記憶するものとして説明した。また、トイレ使用頻度の算出にあたっても、各ブロック単位でトイレの使用頻度を予測するものとして説明した。しかし、前に触れたように、トイレ使用情報として、トイレの使用が検出された時刻を記憶し、このような使用情報に基づいて、時々刻々のトイレ使用頻度を算出することも可能である。また、トイレが使用された時刻を記憶するが、トイレ使用頻度は時間帯毎に算出することも可能である。以下では、トイレの使用時刻を記憶しておき、このトイレ使用情報に基づいてトイレ使用頻度を算出する方法について説明する。
【０１８０】
図２３は、トイレ使用情報としてトイレが使用された時刻を記憶し、トイレ使用頻度の予測も、時々刻々に行う方法の一例を概念的に説明した説明図である。尚、図２３では、説明を簡略化するために、記憶されるトイレ使用情報は３日分であるとして説明する。図２３（ａ）は、学習データ枠にトイレの使用時刻が記憶されている様子を模式的に表したものである。図中の▽で示した時刻でトイレが使用されている。トイレは毎日ほぼ同じような時刻に使用されると考えられるから、過去にトイレの使用が検出された時刻の前後では、再びトイレが使用される可能性が高いと考えることができる。また、トイレが使用された時刻から離れていくに従って、再びトイレが使用される可能性は低くなっていくと考えることができる。すなわち、トイレが使用された時刻を中心として、時刻が離れるに従って重みが小さくなるような分布の重み係数を考え、係数の値が大きくなる時刻では、再びトイレが使用される可能性が高いと考えることができる。
【０１８１】
このような考え方に基づき、図２３（ａ）に記憶されているトイレ使用時刻のそれぞれについて、重み係数が分布している様子を模式的に示したのが図２３（ｂ）である。学習データ枠に記憶されている全てのトイレ使用情報について、このような重み係数を累積すれば、図２３（ｃ）に示すように時々刻々のトイレ使用頻度を算出することができる。
【０１８２】
以上の説明では、記憶されている全てのトイレ使用情報について重み係数の分布を考えて、１日分のトイレ使用頻度を一度に算出したが、図２３（ｄ）に示すようにしてトイレ使用頻度を時々刻々に算出することも可能である。例えば、図２３（ｄ）中の△の時刻でのトイレ使用頻度を算出するものとする。トイレ使用頻度を算出しようとする時刻（算出時刻）と、学習データ枠に記憶されている各トイレ使用時刻との時間差を求め、この時間差の逆数の値を全てのトイレ使用時刻について累積し、得られた累積値を算出時刻でのトイレ使用頻度とする。もちろん、累積する値は、時間差の逆数に限定されるものではなく、時間差の２乗の逆数を用いるなど、トイレ使用頻度が適切に算出されるような種々の値を累積してもよい。
【０１８３】
図２３には、トイレを使用した時刻を記憶しておき、これに基づいて時々刻々のトイレ使用頻度を算出する方法の一例を説明したが、トイレ使用時刻に基づいて各時間帯でのトイレ使用頻度を算出することも可能である。このような方法の一例を図２４を用いて説明する。図２４（ａ）は、トイレ使用時刻が学習データ枠に記憶されている様子を模式的に示したものである。図２３と同様に、図の煩雑化を避けるために、学習データ枠には３日分のトイレ使用情報が記憶されるものとしている。記憶されているトイレ使用時刻のそれぞれについて、図２３（（ｂ）と同様に重み係数を作用させ時々刻々のトイレ使用頻度を算出する（図２４（ｂ）参照）。こうして求めたトイレ使用頻度の分布を、各時間帯毎に足し合わせ、各時間帯でのトイレ使用頻度を求めることができる。
【０１８４】
あるいは、学習データ枠に記憶されているトイレ使用回数を各時間帯毎に累積して、各時間帯でのトイレ使用頻度を求めるようにしても良い。また、使用頻度を求めようとする時間帯内に使用されたトイレ使用回数のみを累積するのではなく、図２４（ｃ）に示すように、時間帯より所定時間だけ前後するトイレの使用回数も累積するようにしてもよい。こうすれば、トイレ使用時刻の変動を吸収して安定してトイレ使用頻度を算出することが可能となる。
【０１８５】
Ｃ．学習結果に基づくトイレ環境の制御内容
本実施例の衛生装置１０は、前述の方法によって学習したトイレ使用状況と補助操作部１８の設定内容とに基づいてトイレ環境を制御する。本実施例の衛生装置１０では、補助操作部１８の操作者が設定されている制御モードを変更することによって、トイレ使用者に快適なトイレ環境を提供しながら、エネルギ消費量の更なる節約を図ることが可能となっている。以下では、制御モードが補助操作部１８でどのように設定され、本実施例の衛生装置１０がトイレ環境をどのように制御するかについて説明する。
【０１８６】
（１）第１態様：
以下、説明する第１ないし第４の態様のうち、本発明の内容に対応しているのは、第２ないし第４の態様である。まず、比較例としての第１の態様から説明する。図２５（ａ）は、第１の態様の衛生装置１０の補助操作部１８を示した説明図である。図示するように、補助操作部１８には電源スイッチ９００と、暖房便座の温度を調節する調整つまみ９０２と、人体局部を洗浄する洗浄水の温度を調整する調整つまみ９０４と、洗浄後の局部を乾燥させる温風の温度を調整する調整つまみ９０６と、トイレ室内の暖房温度を調整する調整つまみ９０８と、快適運転スイッチ９１２と、省エネ運転スイッチ９１４とが設けられている。快適運転スイッチ９１２と省エネ運転スイッチ９１４は、衛生装置１０の制御モードを切り替えるためのスイッチである。快適運転スイッチ９１２を選択した場合、衛生装置１０はエネルギ消費量が多くなってもトイレ環境の快適さを追求した制御を行い、省エネ運転スイッチ９１４を選択した場合はトイレ環境の快適さを多少犠牲にしてもエネルギ消費量が余り増加しないように制御を行う。快適運転スイッチ９１２と省エネ運転スイッチ９１４とは、常にどちらか一方が選択されるようになっている。つまり、快適運転スイッチ９１２が選択されれば自動的に省エネ運転の設定が解除され、逆に省エネ運転スイッチ９１４が選択されれば快適運転の設定は解除される。
【０１８７】
快適運転スイッチ９１２が選択されている場合は、補助操作部１８の操作者はトイレ環境の快適さを強く求めているものと考えられる。そこで、トイレ使用頻度の予測結果に関わらず、暖房便座や洗浄水等の温度は操作者が設定した温度に制御する。例えトイレ使用頻度が小さいと予測されていている時間帯でも、その時間帯にトイレが使用される可能性が全くないわけではないので、何時でも快適にトイレを使用できるように、便座や洗浄水を設定された温度に制御しておくのである。便座や洗浄水等の設定温度は、前述の調整つまみ９０２ないし９０８によって設定されている。
【０１８８】
省エネ運転スイッチ９１４が選択されている場合は、補助操作部１８の操作者は、電気使用量の浪費を避けるためには快適さを多少犠牲にしても構わないと考えているものと思われる。そこで、トイレ使用頻度が大きいと予測される時間帯では、操作者が設定した温度に制御するが、それ以外の時間帯ではトイレ使用者が不快に感じない程度の低い温度に制御する。トイレ使用者が不快に感じない程度の温度とは、例えば暖房便座では２６℃、洗浄水では３３℃程度であり、これらの値は予め実験的に求められて衛生装置１０の出荷時に設定されている。
【０１８９】
図２６は、衛生装置１０が、第１の態様において操作者が設定した制御モードとトイレ使用頻度の予測結果とに基づいて、トイレ環境を制御している様子を示す説明図である。本実施例の衛生装置１０は、便座温度や洗浄水温度、温風温度等の各種温度を制御しているが、図２６には一例として、洗浄水温度と便座温度のみを示している。図２６の上側には前述の制御データ枠を、制御データ枠の下側には洗浄水の制御温度を、洗浄水の制御温度の下には便座の制御温度をそれぞれ示している。制御データ枠にはトイレ使用頻度の予測値が書き込まれている。予測値「０」はトイレ使用頻度小の状態を示し、予測値「１」は使用頻度中の状態を、予測値「２」は使用頻度大の状態を示している。
【０１９０】
補助操作部１８で選択された制御モードが快適運転である場合は、制御データ枠の予測値の設定に関わらず、洗浄水温度が常に設定された温度になるように制御する。すなわち、快適運転が選択されている場合は操作者はエネルギの節約よりもトイレ環境の快適さを優先させて制御することを希望していると思われるので、僅かでもトイレが使用される可能性がある限りは、便座温度や洗浄水温度が設定された温度になるように常に制御しておく。
【０１９１】
これに対して補助操作部１８で選択された制御モードが省エネ運転である場合、制御データ枠の予測値が「２」（トイレ使用頻度が大）の時間帯では設定された温度になるように制御するが、それ以外の時間帯では洗浄水温度３３℃に制御する。すなわち制御モードとして省エネ運転が選択されている場合は、多少快適さが犠牲になってもエネルギを節約することを希望していると思われるので、頻繁にトイレを使用すると予測される時間帯では設定された温度になるように制御し、それほど頻繁には使用しないと予測される時間帯やほとんど使用しないと予測される時間帯では、トイレ使用者が不快に感じない程度の低い温度に洗浄水温度を制御して、エネルギの節約を図るのである。
【０１９２】
このように、上記比較例の衛生装置１０は、補助操作部１８に設定された制御モードとして省エネ運転が選択されると、トイレの使用状況の学習結果に基づいて、トイレ環境の制御内容を変更するに過ぎない。
【０１９３】
（２）第２態様：
図２５（ｂ）は第２の態様の衛生装置１０の補助操作部１８を示した説明図である。第２の態様の補助操作部１８には、第１の態様の補助操作部１８と異なり、弱省エネ運転スイッチ９１６と強省エネ運転スイッチ９１８の２つの省エネ運転スイッチが設けられている。補助操作部１８の操作者が、エネルギの節約よりもトイレ環境の快適さを優先させたいと考えている場合は快適運転スイッチ９１２を選択し、エネルギの節約のためにはトイレ環境の快適さを多少犠牲にしても良いと考えている場合は弱省エネ運転スイッチ９１６を選択し、トイレ環境の快適さをかなり犠牲にしても良いと考えている場合は強省エネ運転スイッチ９１８を選択する。尚、快適運転スイッチ９１２と弱省エネ運転スイッチ９１６と強省エネ運転スイッチ９１８の３つのスイッチは、常にいずれか１つのスイッチが選択されるようになっている。つまり、３つの内のいずれかのスイッチが選択されるとそれまで選択されていたスイッチは自動的に解除されるようになっている。
【０１９４】
図２７は、第２の態様において、設定された制御モードとトイレ使用頻度の予測結果とに基づいて、洗浄水温度や便座温度等のトイレ環境を制御している様子を示す説明図である。図２７の上側には前述の制御データ枠を、制御データ枠の下には洗浄水の制御温度を、洗浄水の制御温度の下には便座の制御温度をそれぞれ示している。補助操作部１８で選択された制御モードが快適運転である場合は、制御データ枠の予測値の設定に関わらず、洗浄水温度が常に設定された温度になるように制御する（図中の実線参照）。これに対して補助操作部１８で選択された制御モードが弱省エネ運転である場合、制御データ枠の予測値が「２」（トイレ使用頻度が大）の時間帯では設定された温度になるように制御するが、それ以外の時間帯では洗浄水温度が３３℃となるように制御する（図中の破線参照）。更に、強省エネ運転が選択されている場合、制御データ枠の予測値が「０」（トイレの使用頻度が小）の時間帯では便座や洗浄水のヒータ電源を切断する（図中の一点鎖線参照）。すなわち制御モードとして強省エネ運転が選択されている場合は、操作者はエネルギの節約のためにはトイレ環境の快適さがかなり犠牲になってもよいと考えていると思われるので、トイレをほとんど使用しないと予測される時間帯では便座や洗浄水のヒータ電源を切断してエネルギの更なる節約を図るのである。尚、強省エネ運転が選択されている場合でも、頻繁にトイレを使用すると予測される時間帯では設定された温度になるように制御し、それほど頻繁には使用しないと予測される時間帯ではトイレ使用者が不快に感じない程度の低い温度に洗浄水温度を制御する。
【０１９５】
このように、エネルギの節約を望む程度に応じて、補助操作部１８の操作者が強省エネ運転か弱省エネ運転、あるいは快適運転のいずれかを選択し、選択内容をトイレ使用状況の学習結果に基づいて解釈し、解釈結果に基づいてトイレ環境を制御するので、操作者の意図に沿った適切な制御を行うことが可能となる。
【０１９６】
（３）第３態様：
前述の第２態様では、エネルギの節約を望む程度は「強」か「弱」かの２段階しか選択できなかったが、無段階に選択可能としてもよい。図２５（ｃ）は、このような第３の態様の一例としての衛生装置１０の補助操作部１８を示す説明図である。第３の態様の補助操作部１８には、快適運転スイッチ９１２と省エネ運転スイッチ９１４に加えて、省エネの程度を設定するための調整つまみ（以下では、省エネつまみと呼ぶ）９２２が設けられている。省エネ運転スイッチ９１４を選択した上で省エネつまみ９２２を「強」の方向に回すほど、強くエネルギの節約を望んでいる設定となる。逆に、省エネつまみ９２２を「弱」の方向に回すほど、トイレ環境の快適さをエネルギの節約に優先することを望んでいる設定となる。
【０１９７】
第２の態様で説明したように、トイレ使用頻度大の場合は便座や洗浄水等は設定された温度に制御され、トイレ使用頻度中の場合はトイレ使用者が不快を感じない程度の低温に制御され、トイレ使用頻度小の場合は便座や洗浄水等のヒータ電源は切断される。そこで、第３の態様では、省エネつまみ９２２で設定された省エネの程度に応じてトイレ使用頻度の予測値の割合を変更することにより、操作者の意図に沿ってトイレ環境の快適さとエネルギの節約との両立を図っている。予測値の割合を変更する方法については、例えば図２０あるいは図２２を用いて前述した方法を適用することができる。
【０１９８】
図２８は、省エネつまみ９２２の設定に応じて、トイレ使用頻度の予測値の割合を変更する一例を概念的に示す説明図である。図示するように、省エネつまみ９２２が最も「弱」側に設定されている場合は、トイレ使用頻度大の割合を例えば２／３程度とし、残りの割合をトイレ使用頻度中とする。こうすれば１日の内の約２／３の時間帯で便座や洗浄水等の温度が設定温度に制御されるので、トイレを快適に使用することができる。また、あまりトイレを使用しないと考えられる残りの約１／３の時間帯では、エネルギの節約のために設定温度より低温に制御されるが、トイレ使用者に不快感を与えるほど低い温度ではないので、トイレ環境の快適さが損なわれることはない。
【０１９９】
省エネつまみ９２２の設定を「弱」から「強」に変えるに従って、トイレ使用頻度大の割合が減り、トイレ使用頻度中の割合が増加していく。省エネつまみ９２２が「弱」と「強」の中間付近を越えるとトイレ使用頻度小の時間帯が現れ、設定を更に「強」側に近づけるに従い、トイレ使用頻度小の割合が増加していく。
【０２００】
省エネつまみ９２２の設定が最も「強」側に設定されている場合は、補助操作部１８の操作者はトイレ環境を大きく損なわない範囲で、可能な限りエネルギの節約を望んでいるものと思われる。そこで、トイレ使用頻度大の割合を例えば約１／４，トイレ使用頻度中の割合を約１／４，残りの約半分をトイレ使用頻度小とする。こうすれば、比較的トイレを使用しないと予測される１日の約半分の時間帯で便座や洗浄水のヒータ電源が切断されるので、エネルギを大幅に節約することができる。トイレ使用頻度が最も大きい時間帯では便座や洗浄水温度を設定温度に制御するので、快適にトイレを使用することができる。また、トイレの使用がさほど頻繁ではない時間帯では、トイレ使用者が不快に感じない程度の低温に便座や洗浄水等の温度を制御するので、トイレ環境の快適さをさほど損なわずにエネルギの節約を図ることができる。
【０２０１】
尚、図２８では、省エネつまみ９２２の設定に従って、トイレ使用頻度大・中・小の割合が連続的に変化するように設定されている。しかし、前述したように制御データ枠には３２個の時間帯しか存在しないので、図２８に示すようにトイレ使用頻度の割合を連続的に変化させることが常に可能なわけではない。このような場合は、トイレ使用頻度の割合が図２８に示す割合に最も近くなるように閾値ｔｈ１，ｔｈ２の値が決められる。
【０２０２】
（４）第４態様：
以上説明してきた第１ないし第３の態様では、トイレ使用頻度の予測値によって、便座や洗浄水の制御温度を変更した。しかしトイレ使用頻度を次回トイレが使用されるまでの時間を表す指標と考えることも可能である。すなわち、トイレ使用頻度大は次回トイレが使用されるまでの時間が短いことを表し、トイレ使用頻度小は次回トイレが使用されるまでの時間が長いことを表していると考えることもできる。本実施例の第４の態様では、トイレ使用頻度の予測値を次回トイレが使用されるまでの時間を表す指標ととらえ、補助操作部１８の操作者の意図に沿うように次のようにトイレ環境を制御している。
【０２０３】
最も簡単な例として、補助操作部１８が図２５（ａ）に示す構成、すなわち制御モードを設定するスイッチとして快適運転スイッチ９１２と省エネ運転スイッチ９１４の２つが設けられていて、いずれか一方のみが選択される場合について説明する。快適運転スイッチ９１２が選択されている場合は、補助操作部１８の操作者は常に快適なトイレ環境を望んでいると考えられることから、便座や洗浄水等の温度が常に設定された温度となるように制御する。省エネ運転スイッチ９１４が選択されている場合は、エネルギの節約のためにはトイレ環境を多少は犠牲にしても良いと考えていると思われる。そこで、トイレ環境の快適さとエネルギの節約の両立を図って、便座や洗浄水等の温度を次に示すように制御する。
【０２０４】
図２９は第４の態様において、トイレ使用頻度の予測値に応じて便座や洗浄水等の温度を制御する方法の一例を示す説明図である。第４の態様では便座や洗浄水等のヒータ電源のオン・オフを繰り返すことによってトイレ環境の快適さとエネルギの節約との両立を図っている。例えば、トイレ使用頻度中（制御データ枠の予測値が「１」）と予測されている時間帯では、トイレの使用中は便座や洗浄水等の温度を設定された温度になるように制御するが、トイレの使用が検出されなくなると、便座や洗浄水等のヒータ電源を一旦切断し、１０分後に再び設定温度になるように制御を開始する。ここで、制御を再開するまでの経過時間は学習データ枠に蓄積された過去８日間のトイレ使用情報に基づいて決められている。すなわち、トイレ使用頻度が中程度と予測された時間帯での過去８日間のトイレ平均使用回数が、例えば４回と求められたとすると、１つの時間帯は４５分に相当しているから、その時間帯では４５／４≒１１分ごとにトイレが使用されることになる。そこで、１分だけ余裕を見て、トイレ使用検出から１０分経過したら、そろそろトイレが使用されると予測し、便座や洗浄水等の温度の制御を開始するのである。
【０２０５】
トイレ使用頻度大（制御データ枠の予測値「２」）あるいはトイレ使用頻度小（制御データ枠の予測値「０」）と予測されている時間帯においても同様に、トイレの使用が検出されなくなると、便座や洗浄水等のヒータ電源を一旦切断し、トイレの平均使用回数に基づいて算出された時間経過後に再び制御を開始して、便座や洗浄水等の温度を予め設定されている温度に制御する。
【０２０６】
図３０は第４の態様において、トイレ使用頻度の予測値に応じて便座や洗浄水等の温度を制御する方法の他の一例を示す説明図である。図３０に示した例では、トイレの使用中は便座や洗浄水等の温度を設定された温度に制御するが、トイレの使用が検出されなくなると、制御の目標温度を、一旦、室温まで下げ、その後、所定時間かけて目標温度を設定されている温度に近づけていく。この結果、トイレの使用が検出されなくなった直後は、便座や洗浄水等のヒータ電源は切断されるが、目標温度が上昇するにつれて、ある時期からヒータ電源が入って便座や洗浄水を暖め出す。ここで、目標温度が室温から設定温度に戻るまでの所定時間は、図２９を用いて説明した場合と同様に、トイレ使用頻度の予測値に応じて次のように設定されている。例えば、トイレ使用頻度中と予測された時間帯での過去８日間のトイレ平均使用回数が４回と求められたとすると、１つの時間帯は４５分に相当するから、その時間帯では約１１分ごとにトイレが使用されると考えることができる。そこで、トイレが使用されてから１１分後に便座や洗浄水等の温度が設定温度になるように制御するのである。
【０２０７】
もっとも、こうして求められた次回トイレが使用されるまでの時間は、あくまでも平均的な時間であるので、早めにトイレが使用されることも起こり得る。しかし、多少早めにトイレが使用されたとしても、設定された温度に近い温度となるように制御されていると考えられるので、トイレ使用者が不快に感じることはない。
【０２０８】
トイレ使用頻度大（制御データ枠の予測値「２」）あるいはトイレ使用頻度小（制御データ枠の予測値「０」）と予測されている時間帯においても同様に、トイレの使用が検出されなくなると、便座や洗浄水等の制御目標温度を一旦、室温まで下げ、その後、徐々に設定温度まで上昇させていく。トイレ使用頻度大と予測されている時間帯では、トイレが使用されてから次回使用されるまでの時間が短いと考えられるので、目標温度を速やかに設定温度まで戻し、一方、トイレ使用頻度小と予測されている時間帯では、トイレが次回使用されるまでの時間が長いと考えられることから、長い時間かけてゆっくりと目標温度を設定温度まで戻していく。
【０２０９】
以上説明したように第４の態様では、補助操作部１８の快適運転スイッチ９１２が選択されている場合、操作者は、多少エネルギを浪費することになっても快適にトイレを使用することを希望していると考えられるので、操作者の意向に沿った制御を行うために、便座等の温度を設定温度に保つよう制御する。また、省エネ運転スイッチ９１４が選択されている場合、操作者は、多少トイレ環境の快適さが損なわれてもエネルギを節約することを希望していると考えられるので、操作者の意向に沿った制御を行うために、学習結果に基づいて次のトイレの使用時期を予測し、トイレの使用時期が近づくとトイレ環境の制御を開始するのである。
【０２１０】
尚、快適なトイレ環境を確保するために、トイレ使用頻度大と予測されている時間帯では、常に便座等の温度を制御するようにしても構わない。また、エネルギの節約のために、トイレ使用頻度小と予測されている時間帯では、ヒータ電源を切断して便座や洗浄水等の温度制御を休止したり、あるいはトイレ使用者が不快に感じない程度の低い温度に制御するようにしても構わない。このようにしても、快適なトイレ環境をある程度まで確保しつつ、エネルギの節約を図ることができるので、操作者の意向に沿った制御を行うことができる。
【０２１１】
以上説明した第４の態様では、トイレの使用を検出した後に、一旦、室温まで制御の目標温度を低下させた。しかし、トイレ使用頻度の算出値に応じて適した温度を設定しておき、トイレの使用を検出した後に、制御の目標温度を設定した温度まで低下させるようにしてもよい。例えば、トイレ使用頻度大と算出されている場合は、制御の目標温度を僅かだけ低下させる。その後、目標温度を徐々に上昇させていくが、トイレ使用頻度大の場合は僅かしか目標温度を低下させていないので、速やかに設定温度に戻ることになる。逆に、トイレ使用頻度小と予測されている場合は、目標温度をほとんど室温付近まで低下させる。こうすれば、制御の目標温度が設定温度に戻るには長い時間がかかるので、その分だけエネルギの節約が図れることになる。
【０２１２】
（５）第５態様：
以上、説明してきた第１ないし第４の態様では、学習データ枠に蓄積したトイレ使用情報からトイレ使用頻度を算出しておき、算出したトイレ使用頻度に基づいて、設定されている制御モードを解釈した。すなわち、学習データ枠に記憶されたデータが同じなら、選択された制御モードが異なっていてもトイレ使用頻度の算出値は同じ値となり、制御モードの選択は、トイレ使用頻度の算出値がどのような制御内容を意味しているか、換言すればトイレ使用頻度の解釈方法を変更していた。かかる方法は、蓄積したデータからトイレ使用頻度を算出する演算式や演算結果を格納する制御データ枠を一式だけ備えておけばよいので、プログラムやデータを記憶するメモリの節約することができるという利点がある。
【０２１３】
これに対して、第５の態様では、蓄積したトイレ使用情報からトイレ使用頻度を算出するために演算式を複数セット備えており、制御モードの設定が変更されると、蓄積されているデータからトイレ使用頻度を計算し直して、算出結果を制御データ枠に記憶する。こうして、制御モードに対応して算出されたトイレ使用頻度に基づいて、トイレ環境の制御を実施する。かかる方法では、制御モード毎に異なる演算式を用いることができ、更に演算式は設定の自由度が高いので、蓄積したデータに基づいて、より適したトイレ使用頻度を算出することができる。このためトイレ環境を、トイレ使用者の意図にきめ細かく対応して、適切に制御することができ、トイレ環境の快適さを損なうことなく、より一層のエネルギの節約を図ることが可能となる。
【０２１４】
また、以上の説明では制御データ枠は１セットであるものとしたが、制御データ枠を制御モードの数だけ備えておき、選択されているか否かにかかわらず、各制御モードに対応するトイレ使用頻度の算出値を、常に制御データ枠に記憶しておいても構わない。このようにすれば制御モードの選択が変更されたときに、トイレ環境の制御を速やかに変更することが可能である。
【０２１５】
Ｄ．学習完了前におけるトイレ使用頻度の予測
以上説明したように、本実施例の衛生装置１０は補助操作部１８の操作者の設定内容を、トイレ使用頻度の予測結果に基づいて解釈することにより、操作者の意向に沿って適切にトイレ環境を制御している。しかしトイレ使用状況の学習が完了する前には、前述した方法でトイレ使用頻度を予測すると、予測精度が悪化して、操作者の意図と異なる制御をしてしまうことが起こり得る。そこで、学習完了前は次のようにしてトイレ使用頻度を予測する。
【０２１６】
図３１は、学習完了前にトイレ使用頻度を予測する方法を示す説明図である。以下、図３１に従って説明する。学習開始の初日は、トイレ使用情報が全く蓄積されていないので、すべての時間帯でトイレ使用頻度大と予測する。前述したように、トイレ使用頻度大の時間帯では、便座や洗浄水等の温度は設定されている温度に制御されるので、トイレの使用頻度大と予測することで、トイレ環境の快適さを確保しておくのである。
【０２１７】
学習開始後２日目は、１日目のトイレ使用情報が蓄積されているので、このデータに基づいて大雑把な予測を行う。すなわち、トイレ使用頻度を予測しようとする時間帯の前後２つずつ合計４つの時間帯で、１回でもトイレが使用されている場合は、その時間帯の使用頻度を大と予測し、１回も使用されていない場合は使用頻度を中と予測する。ここでは、１つの時間帯が４５分に相当するから、４つの時間帯は３時間に相当する。つまり３時間の間に１回もトイレが使用されていない場合に限ってトイレ使用頻度中と判断しているので、わずか１日分のデータしか蓄積していなくてもトイレ環境を大きく損なうことはない。
【０２１８】
学習開始後３日目は、２日分のトイレ使用情報が蓄積されているので、このデータを用いてトイレの使用頻度を予測する。すなわち、トイレ使用頻度を予測しようとする時間帯の前後２つずつ合計４つの時間帯で、過去２日間に２回以上トイレが使用されている場合に、その時間帯の使用頻度を大と予測し、それ以外の場合はトイレ使用頻度を中と予測する。学習開始後３日目の時点では、トイレが全く使用されていない時間帯があってもトイレ使用頻度が小であるとは予測しない。これは、前述したように、使用頻度が小であると予測された場合、便座や洗浄水等のヒータ電源を切断する場合があり、誤った予測をすることによるトイレ環境が大きく損なわれる可能性があるためである。学習完了前にトイレ使用者にたびたび不快を強いた結果、トイレ使用者が省エネ運転を解除したり、あるいは強省エネ運転を弱省エネ運転に変更したのでは、エネルギの更なる節約を達成することはできない。従って、トイレ使用頻度の予測精度が向上するまでは、トイレ使用頻度が小であるとは予測しないことによって、最終的なエネルギの節約効果を確保することが可能となる。
【０２１９】
学習開始後４日目になると、３日分のトイレ使用情報が蓄積されているので、これを基に、より精度の高い予測を行うことが可能となる。そこで、使用頻度を予測しようとする時間帯の前後１つずつ合計２つの時間帯で、過去３日間に１回以上トイレが使用されている時間帯を使用頻度大と予測する。また、予測しようとする時間帯の前後２つずつ合計４つの時間帯で、過去３日間のトイレ使用回数が２回以下の時間帯をトイレ使用頻度小と予測する。但し、トイレ使用頻度小の時間帯が多くなると、１日のうちの多くの時間帯で便座等のヒータ電源が切断され、トイレ環境を大きく損なう可能性がある。そこで、使用頻度小の時間帯が１日の２５％を越える場合は、閾値の値を小さくして、使用頻度小の時間帯の割合が２５％を越えないように制御されている。トイレ使用頻度が大でも小でもない時間帯は、使用頻度が中であると予測する。
【０２２０】
学習開始後５日目以降は、４日目とほぼ同様にしてトイレ使用頻度を予測する。但し、トイレ使用情報の蓄積量が増加した分だけ予測精度を向上させるべく、トイレ使用頻度大と予測されるための条件が厳しくなっている。すなわち、学習開始後５日目と６日目では、前後１つずつ合計２つの時間帯で２回以上トイレが使用されていない限り、また学習開始後７日目と８日目では、前後１つずつ合計２つの時間帯で３回以上トイレが使用されていない限り、その時間帯でトイレ使用頻度大と予測されることはない。
【０２２１】
本実施例の衛生装置１０は、トイレ使用情報の蓄積中も以上のようにしてトイレ使用頻度を予測するので、例え学習完了前でも、補助操作部１８の操作者の意図に沿って適切にトイレ環境を制御することが可能である。その結果、学習完了前に、トイレ使用者が省エネ運転を解除したり、強省エネ運転を弱省エネ運転に変更したりするおそれが無くなり、所定のエネルギの節約効果を得ることが可能となる。
【０２２２】
Ｅ．停電等の電源切断対策
本実施例の衛生装置１０はトイレの使用を検出すると、検出した時刻と共に仮登録データ枠に記憶しておき、１日分のトイレ使用情報をまとめて学習データ枠に蓄積する。前述したように、仮登録データ枠はＤＣ制御ユニット７００内のＲＡＭ７０６上に設けられている。ところが一般的に、ＲＡＭ上に記憶されているデータを保持するためには所定の電圧を印可しておく必要があるので、停電や清掃等のトイレのメンテナンスのためコンセントが抜かれる等して、衛生装置１０への電力の供給が絶たれると、仮登録データ枠に記憶されたトイレ使用情報が消滅してしまう。また、衛生装置１０への電力の供給が絶たれている間は、ＤＣ制御ユニット７００内の内蔵時計７１０が停止するので、それ以降のトイレ使用情報はトイレの使用時刻がズレて記憶されてしまう。蓄積されるトイレの使用時刻にズレが生じていては、トイレの使用を正確に予測することはできない。本実施例の衛生装置１０では、停電やトイレの清掃等で電源が切断されても、蓄積中のトイレ使用情報が消滅したりトイレ使用時刻にズレが生じることのないよう、次のようにして電源切断時の記憶保護を図ると共に、電源切断によるトイレ使用時刻のズレを補正している。
【０２２３】
（１）電源切断時の記憶保護
図３２は、衛生装置１０内における電力の供給経路を概念的に示した説明図である。衛生装置１０の電源コードをコンセントに差し込むと、商用電源７３０から電源回路７３２に交流１００ボルトの電力が供給される。電源回路７３２は交流１００ボルトの電力を直流５ボルトの電気と直流２４ボルトの電気の２種類の電力に変換する。直流５ボルトの電力はＤＣ制御ユニット７００に、直流２４ボルトの電力はＡＣ制御ユニット６００に、それぞれ供給される。図示するように、ＤＣ制御ユニット７００内のＣＰＵ７０２やＲＯＭ７０４、内蔵時計７０６等のほとんどの部品には直流５ボルトの電気が直接供給されているが、ＲＡＭ７０６には停電監視部７３４を介して電力が供給されている。停電監視部７３４は電源回路から供給される電圧を絶えず監視していて、停電や衛生装置１０のコンセントが抜かれる等して電圧が低下したことを検出すると、電池７３６からの電力供給に切り替える。電池７３６には、一次電池あるいは二次電池のいずれも適用することができ、更には大容量のコンデンサ等を適用することも可能である。このように本実施例の衛生装置１０は、停電等を検出すると電池からの電力をＲＡＭ７０６に供給するので、停電やコンセントを抜く等によって電力が切断される等しても仮登録データ枠に記憶されたトイレ使用情報が消えることはない。また、前述したように本実施例の衛生装置１０では、学習データ枠に蓄積されるトイレ使用情報は不揮発性メモリ７０８に記憶されているので、停電等により電源の供給が切断されても蓄積したデータが消滅することはない。不揮発性メモリ７０８としては、フラッシュメモリ等のＥＥＰＲＯＭが使用されている。
【０２２４】
（２）電源切断によるトイレ使用時刻のズレ補正
本実施例の衛生装置１０は、リモコン２０から１日に１回だけ定期的に信号（以下、この信号を時間信号と呼ぶ）を受け取り、この時間信号を基準に用いて、停電等による時刻のズレを補正する。時間信号は、リモコン２０に内蔵されている赤外線発光素子からＤＣ制御ユニット７００内の通信回路７１４に赤外線の搬送波に載せて送信される。以下、時刻のズレを補正する方法について説明する。
【０２２５】
前述したように、衛生装置１０は、１日を４５分幅の３２個のブロックに分割し、各ブロックにおけるトイレの使用回数という形態で、トイレ使用情報を蓄積している。トイレの使用を検出するたびに、トイレ使用情報を仮登録データ枠に蓄積していき、１日分のデータを蓄積すると、学習データ枠に登録する。学習データ枠は８日分のトイレ使用情報を蓄積可能となっていて、新たなデータが登録されると、古いデータは消去されるようになっている。また、本実施例では１日に１回、リモコン２０から時間信号を受信するが、信号を受信したブロックの番号も仮登録データ枠および学習データ枠に蓄積される。
【０２２６】
停電等による時刻のズレを補正する方法は、停電があったときに時間信号を受信しているか否か、換言すれば、時間信号を受信したブロックの番号が、停電時に仮登録データ枠に記憶されているか否かによって異なっている。そこで、先ず、時間信号を受信する前に停電した場合について、次いで、時間信号を受信後に停電した場合について、それぞれ時刻のズレを補正する方法の概要を説明する。
【０２２７】
図３３は、時間信号を受信する前に停電した場合に、時刻のズレを補正する方法の概要を示した説明図である。図３３（ａ）は、学習データ枠に蓄積されている８日分のトイレ使用情報のうちの、最新の１日分の蓄積データを示したものである。１日分のトイレ使用情報は３２個のブロックから構成され、各ブロックにはトイレの使用回数が書き込まれている。また、図中で斜線を施してあるブロックは、そのブロックで時間信号を受信したことを示している。図３３（ａ）に示した例では、２４番目のブロックを蓄積中に時間信号を受信している。
【０２２８】
図３３（ｂ）は、トイレ使用情報を仮登録データ枠に蓄積している様子を示したものである。８番目のブロックにトイレ使用情報を蓄積している途中で停電が発生したものとしている。停電中は内蔵時計７１０は止まってしまい経過時間が分からないので、停電から復帰しても何番目のブロックからデータを蓄積すればよいか分からない。そこでとりあえず復帰以降のトイレ使用情報を、停電直後のブロックから仮のデータとして蓄積していく。図３３に示した例では、停電直後のブロックすなわち９番目のブロックから、仮のデータとしてトイレ使用情報を蓄積していく。図３３（ｂ）では、９番目以降のブロックの番号にカッコが付されているのは、仮のデータとして蓄積されていることを表している。
【０２２９】
こうして仮のデータを蓄積していると、やがてある時期に時間信号を受信する。図３３（ｂ）では２１番目のブロックで時間信号を受信している。ここで、時間信号は２４時間毎に送信されるから、停電がなければ、蓄積データと同様に２４番目のブロックで受信しているはずである。すなわち、２４−２１＝３から、３ブロック分に相当する時間だけ停電していたと考えることができる。従って、停電期間が分からなかったので停電復帰直後の９番目のブロック以降に仮にデータを蓄積してきたが、３ブロック分ずらして１２番目以降に蓄積すればよいことが分かる。
【０２３０】
こうして算出した停電期間に基づいて、トイレ使用時刻のズレは図３３（ｃ）に示すように補正することができる。停電直後では仮のデータとして９番目以降のブロックに蓄積されたデータが、停電時間に相当する３ブロック分だけズラされ、１２番目のブロック以降に記憶されている。トイレ使用時刻のズレを補正した後は、通常の通りにトイレの使用情報を蓄積し、一日分のデータを仮登録データ枠に蓄積したら、これを学習データ枠に登録する。
【０２３１】
尚、図３３（ｄ）に示すように、停電中の期間（９番目から１１番目までの３つのブロック）ではトイレの使用を検出することができないのでトイレ使用情報はブランクとなっており、トイレは使用されていないものとして蓄積されることになる。しかし停電中でも、トイレは当然に使用される。従って、長時間停電する場合に、停電期間中はトイレが使用されなかったものと扱うと、実際のトイレの使用状況とかけ離れたデータを蓄積することになり、その結果、トイレの使用頻度の予測精度が低下するおそれがある。そこで、１日３２ブロック中の停電期間が３ブロック程度ならともかく、停電期間が所定期間以上となる場合は、その日のトイレ使用情報は蓄積せずに破棄し、代わりに前述した専用のデータ枠に予め蓄積しておいた過去の平均的な使用のデータを蓄積することによって、予測精度の低下を防いでいる。尚、このように代用データを蓄積しているので、図１９を用いて説明したように、データの蓄積日に応じて所定の重みを付けてトイレ使用頻度を算出する場合でも、蓄積日の対応した適切な重みを付けて算出することができる。もっとも、停電期間中だけ、過去に蓄積したデータを書き込んでもよく、また、データの蓄積日に対応した重みを付けない場合には、停電時間の長い日はデータを蓄積しないものとしても構わない。
【０２３２】
次に、時間信号を受信してから停電した場合に、時刻のズレを補正する方法の概要について、図３４を用いて説明する。図３４（ａ）は、仮登録データ枠にトイレ使用情報を蓄積している様子を示したものである。図３４に示す例では、１５番目のブロックにデータを蓄積している途中で停電が発生しているが、その前の１２番目のブロックで時間信号を受信している。停電中は経過時間が分からないので、停電復帰後のデータを何番目のブロックから蓄積すればよいのか分からない。そこで、図３３を用いて説明した場合と同様に、仮のデータとして停電直後のブロックから順次蓄積していく。図３４（ａ）の例では、仮のデータは１６番目のブロックから蓄積されている。尚、１６番目以降のブロックの番号にカッコが付されているのは、仮のデータとして蓄積されていることを表している。
【０２３３】
こうして仮のデータを蓄積していると、やがてある時期に時間信号を受信する。図３４（ａ）では３８番目のブロックで時間信号を受信している。ここで、前回に時間信号を受信したのは１２番目のブロックだったので、停電がなければ、１２＋３２＝４４から、４４番目のブロックで受信しているはずである。ところが実際に受信したのは３８番目のブロックであるから、４４番目と３８番目の差に相当する６ブロック分だけ停電していたと考えることができる。そこで、仮のデータとして１６番目以降のブロックに蓄積したデータを、６ブロックだけズラして、２２番目以降に蓄積すれば、停電による時刻のズレを補正できることになる。
【０２３４】
図３４（ｂ）は、こうして停電期間を補正した結果を示したものである。１番目から３２番目までのデータは学習データ枠に蓄積するはずのデータであり、３３番目以降のデータは現在蓄積中のデータと考えられる。そこで図３４（ｂ）の蓄積データを、図３４（ｃ）に示すように２日分の蓄積データに分割する。すなわち、図３４（ｂ）の１番目から３２番目までのデータは学習データ枠に蓄積し、３３番目以降のデータは図３４（ｃ）の下側に示すように、蓄積途中のデータとして仮登録データ枠の１番目以降のブロックに設定し直す。
【０２３５】
以上説明してきた考え方に基づいて、停電等による時刻のズレを補正する処理の流れを示すフローチャートを図３５に示す。この処理は、停電後に電力の供給が再開されたことを検出すると起動される。電力の供給の再開は、ＤＣ制御ユニット７００内の停電監視部７３４が検出する（図３２参照）。以下、図３５のフローチャートに従って、停電等による時刻のズレを補正する処理を簡単に説明する。
【０２３６】
停電から復帰すると、仮登録データ枠のデータに時間信号が含まれているか否かを判断する（ステップＳ４００）。前述したように、時刻のズレを補正する方法は、時間信号を受信する前に停電した場合と、時間信号を受信してから停電した場合とで異なっている。そこで、どちらの方法で補正するかを判断するために、仮登録データ枠の蓄積中のデータに時間信号が含まれているか否かを、初めに判断するのである。
【０２３７】
仮登録データ枠に時間信号が蓄積されていない場合は、時間信号を受信する前に停電したものと判断することができる。すなわち、この場合は図３３を使用して説明した考え方を用いて、時刻のズレを補正すればよい。そこで、先ず、学習データ枠に登録されている最新の蓄積データを参照して、時間信号を受信したブロックの番号Ｂ１を取得しておく（ステップＳ４０２）。
【０２３８】
時間信号を受信したブロックの番号を取得すると、トイレ使用情報を仮登録データ枠に蓄積する処理を再開するが、停電中にどの程度時間が経過したかが不明なので、仮登録データ枠のどのブロックから蓄積していけばよいかが分からない。そこで、とりあえず停電した次のブロックから、仮のデータとして順次データを蓄積していき、時間信号を受信するまで蓄積する（ステップＳ４０４，Ｓ４０６）。
【０２３９】
時間信号を受信すると、前述したように、その時にデータを蓄積しているブロックの番号から、停電していた時間が何ブロック分に相当するかを求めることができ、何ブロック分停電していたかを知ることができれば、停電による時刻のズレを補正することが可能となる（図３３参照）。そこで、かかる補正を行うために、時間信号受信時に蓄積していたブロックの番号Ｂ２を取得する（ステップＳ４０８）。次いで、予め取得しておいたブロックの番号Ｂ１と時間信号受信時のブロックの番号Ｂ２との差を計算ことにより、停電時間に相当するブロック数を得ることができる（ステップＳ４１０）。すなわち、時間信号は２４時間周期で送信されているので、仮に停電が無かったとしたら、学習データ枠に蓄積されているデータと同じようにＢ１番目のブロックで時間信号を受信していたはずである。ところが実際にはＢ２番目のブロックで受信したのであるから、Ｂ１とＢ２の差に相当するブロック数だけ停電していたと考えることができるのである。
【０２４０】
こうして停電していた時間が何ブロック分に相当するかを求めることができたら、停電から復帰後にステップＳ４０４ないしＳ４０６の処理で仮に登録していたデータを、正しいブロックに蓄積し直して（ステップＳ４１２）、ズレ補正処理を終了し、以降は通常通りにトイレ使用情報を蓄積していく。
【０２４１】
ステップＳ４００で、仮登録データ枠に時間信号が蓄積されていない場合、すなわち時間信号を受信する前に停電したと判断された場合は、以上説明したようにしてズレの補正をすることができる。一方、ステップＳ４００において、仮登録データ枠に時間信号が蓄積されている場合、すなわち時間信号を受信した後に停電したと判断された場合は、図３４を使用して説明した考え方を用いて、以下のようにしてズレを補正する。
【０２４２】
先ず、仮登録データ枠中で時間信号が蓄積されているブロックの番号Ｂ１を取得しておく（ステップＳ４１４）。時間信号が蓄積されているブロックの番号を取得すると、トイレ使用情報を仮登録データ枠に蓄積する処理を再開するが、停電中にどの程度時間が経過したかが不明なので、仮登録データ枠のどのブロックから蓄積していけばよいかが分からない。そこで、とりあえず停電した次のブロックから、仮のデータとして順次データを蓄積していき、再び時間信号を受信するまで蓄積する（ステップＳ４１６，Ｓ４１８）。
【０２４３】
再び時間信号を受信したら、そのブロックの番号Ｂ２を取得する（ステップＳ４２０）。時間信号は２４時間周期で送信されているから、もし停電が無かったとすると、２回目に時間信号を受信するブロックの番号は（Ｂ１＋３２）となるはずである。しかし実際にはＢ２番目のブロックで受信したのだから、（Ｂ１＋３２）とＢ２との差が停電していた期間に相当するブロック数であると考えられる。そこで、（Ｂ１＋３２）−Ｂ２を計算して、その値を停電時間に相当するブロック数とする（ステップＳ４２２）。
【０２４４】
こうして停電していた時間が何ブロック分に相当するかを求めることができたら、停電から復帰後にステップＳ４１６ないしＳ４１８の処理で仮に登録していたデータを、正しいブロックに蓄積し直して、１番から３２番までのデータは学習データ枠に登録し、３３番以降のデータは蓄積途中のデータとして仮登録データ枠に設定する（ステップＳ４２４）。以上の処理が完了するとズレ補正処理を終了し、以降は通常通りに、仮登録データ枠にトイレ使用情報を蓄積していく。
【０２４５】
また、停電から復帰後に、リモコン２０に対して時刻情報を要求し、該要求に応じて補助操作部１８に対して現在時刻の情報を送信するようにしてもよい。こうして復帰後の時刻を知ることができれば、それ以降は通常通りに、トイレ使用情報を蓄積していくことが可能となる。
【０２４６】
以上説明した補正方法では、リモコン２０から定期的に時間信号を送信し、この信号を基にして停電していた期間を算出することによって、時刻のズレを補正した。このような方法は正確で比較的簡単に補正することができるが、リモコン２０から時間信号を送信する必要がある。そこで、時間信号を送信する必要のない次のような補正方法を用いることも可能である。
【０２４７】
図３６は時間信号を用いずに時刻のズレを補正する原理を示す説明図である。図３６（ａ）には、例として、停電時に仮登録データ枠の８番目のブロックにデータを蓄積していた場合を示している。停電から復帰すると、停電直後のブロックに続けて、予め定められた数のブロックだけデータを蓄積する。停電復帰後に定められた数だけ蓄積されるブロックを、以下では検査ブロック群と呼ぶことにする。図３６に示す例では、検査ブロック群に含まれるブロックの数は６つとなっている。
【０２４８】
以下に説明する方法では、検査ブロック群のデータと過去に蓄積したデータとの相関を調べることにより、停電していた期間を求めている。すなわち、トイレは毎日ほぼ同じパターンで使用されると考えられるので、検査ブロック群に蓄積されたデータも、過去に蓄積したトイレの使用パターンと大きな違いは無いと考えられる。そこで、検査ブロック群の位置を少しずつズラしながら、検査ブロック群のデータと蓄積データとの相関を調べ、最も相関がよい位置を検査ブロック群のデータが記憶される本来の位置と考えることができる。以下、図３６（ｂ）ないし図３６（ｆ）を用いて具体的に説明する。
【０２４９】
図３６（ｂ）は、過去に蓄積したデータの一例として、学習データ枠の最新日の蓄積データを示したものである。学習データ枠には８日分のデータが蓄積されているから、８日分を平均したデータを用いても構わない。
【０２５０】
図３６（ｃ）は、検査ブロック群をずらす前に蓄積データとの相関を調べている様子を示す説明図である。図３６の例では、８番目のブロックの蓄積中に停電したものとしているので、検査ブロック群の先頭ブロック（図中では「＊」で表示）は９番目のブロック位置となっている。図３６（ｃ）から明らかなように、検査ブロック群のデータと蓄積データとは全く一致していない。検査ブロック群のデータと蓄積データとのズレ量を次のようにして定量化することも可能である。
【０２５１】
先ず、検査ブロック群の１番目のブロック（図中の「＊」を付したブロック）に着目すると、検査ブロック群のデータは「０」であり、対応するブロック（図中では学習データ枠の９番目のブロック）の蓄積データは「２」であるから、２つのデータの差の絶対値を採って、ここでは両者の「２」のズレが生じていると考えることができる。同様に検査ブロック群の２番目のブロックについては、検査ブロック群のデータは「０」であり蓄積データは「１」であるから、検査ブロック群の２番目のブロックで生じるズレは「１」となる。以下、同様にして、結局、検査ブロック群の先頭ブロックが学習データ枠の９番目のブロック位置にある場合のズレ量は、２＋１＋１＋０＋１＋１＝６と定量化することができる。
【０２５２】
図３６（ｄ）は、検査ブロック群の先頭を学習データ枠の１２番目のブロック位置までズラしたときの、検査ブロック群のデータと蓄積データとの相関を調べている様子を示した説明図である。一見して、検査ブロック群のデータと蓄積データとが良く一致していることが分かる。実際に、前述の方法を用いてこの状態のズレ量を求めると、０＋０＋０＋０＋０＋１＝１となって、定量化されたズレ量も極めて小さな値となっている。
【０２５３】
図３６（ｄ）の状態から、検査ブロック群を更に１ブロックだけズラした状態を図３６（ｅ）に示す。図から明らかなように、１ブロックだけ検査ブロック群の位置がズレただけでも、検査ブロック群のデータと蓄積データとの相関は大幅に悪化する。前述の方法でズレ量を定量化すると、０＋１＋１＋１＋０＋０＝３となって、図３６（ｄ）の状態よりはズレ量も増加していることが分かる。
【０２５４】
以上、説明してきたように、検査ブロック群の先頭位置が学習データ枠の１２番目のブロック位置に一致したときに、検査ブロック群のデータと蓄積データとのズレ量が最も小さくなっている。従って、停電から復帰直後の９番目のブロック以降に仮に蓄積した検査ブロック群のデータは、本来は１２番目以降のブロックに蓄積すべきであったと考えられる。そこで、図３６（ｆ）に示すように、検査ブロック群のデータを、仮登録データ枠の１２番目以降のブロックに記憶することによって、停電による時刻のズレが補正されたことになる。
【０２５５】
尚、以上では、検査ブロック群には６つのブロックが含まれているものとして説明した。しかし、蓄積データとの相関を求められる程度にトイレの使用が検査ブロック群に記憶されていさえすれば、検査ブロック群に含まれるブロックの数は６つに限定されるものではない。例えば、トイレの使用を３回検出したら検査ブロック群へのデータの蓄積を打ちきる等して、検査ブロック群に含まれるブロックの数をトイレの使用状況に応じて柔軟に変更することも可能である。
【０２５６】
以上、停電等の電源切断による時刻のズレを補正する方法として、各種の方法について説明したが、停電時には電池等から内蔵時計７１０に電力を供給するようにしてものはもちろんである。半導体技術の進歩により、近年では電力消費量の少ない内蔵時計も容易に入手することが可能となっており、停電時には内蔵時計７１０を電池等の電力で駆動すれば、停電から復帰後直ちにトイレ使用情報の蓄積を開始することができる。
【０２５７】
最後に、本実施例の衛生装置１０が学習データ枠に蓄積したトイレ使用情報を初期化する動作について説明する。前述してきたように、本実施例の衛生装置１０は、８日分のトイレ使用情報を蓄積し、このデータに基づいてトイレ使用頻度を算出している。しかし、トイレ使用者の勤務形態が変わったり、あるいは夏休みに入る等してトイレの使用パターンが大きく変更する場合、蓄積済みのデータに基づいてトイレ使用頻度を算出したのでは、変更後のトイレの使用パターンに適した使用頻度を算出することはできない。そこで、かかる場合は、蓄積したデータを初期化することで、トイレの新たな使用パターンに対応した制御を可能とするのである。
【０２５８】
図３７は、本実施例の衛生装置１０で用いられるリモコン２０の操作部を示した説明図である。図示するように、リモコン２０には、衛生装置１０に対しておしりの洗浄開始を指示するおしり洗浄スイッチ９５０と、ビデ洗浄の開始を指示するビデスイッチ９５２と、温風乾燥の開始を指示する温風乾燥スイッチ９５４と、おしり洗浄やビデ洗浄あるいは温風乾燥の停止を指示する止スイッチ９５６や、室内暖房の入／切を指示する室内暖房スイッチ９５８とが設けられている。その他、ノズル先端位置の微調整を行うノズル位置調整スイッチ９６０や、洗浄ノズルの位置を前後に動かしながら洗浄するムーブスイッチ９６２、洗浄水が噴出する勢いを調整する水勢調整スイッチ９６４や、噴出する勢いに強弱を付けながら洗浄するマッサージスイッチ９６６、ノズル位置や洗浄水の水勢の設定状態を表示する表示部９６８、現在時刻を表示する時刻表示部９７０なども設けられている。
【０２５９】
本実施例の衛生装置１０は、トイレ使用者が止スイッチ９５６と温風乾燥スイッチ９５４とを同時に３秒以上押し続けると、学習データ枠に記憶されているトイレ使用情報を初期化する。初期化動作は、図１１を用いて前述したトイレ使用情報蓄積ルーチンの中で行われる。すなわち、メモリ中の所定アドレスに学習データを無効にする旨のフラグをセットし、図１１に示したトイレ使用情報蓄積ルーチンを再起動する。すると、図１１のステップＳ１００の処理で学習データが存在しないと判断され、続くステップＳ１０２の処理で学習データ枠の全てのデータが初期化される。こうして蓄積データを全て初期化した後、新たにデータを蓄積してトイレ使用頻度を算出する。もちろん、データの蓄積が完了するまでの期間は、図３１を用いて前述した方法によってトイレ使用頻度を算出するので、トイレ使用者は初期化動作直後もトイレを快適に使用することができる。
【０２６０】
本実施例の衛生装置１０において初期化動作を開始するための条件が、止スイッチ９５６と温風乾燥スイッチ９５４とを同時に３秒以上押し続けることとされているのは、次の理由による。図３７に示すように、止スイッチ９５６と温風乾燥スイッチ９５４とは、互いに離れて設けられているので、例えばトイレの清掃中等に、これら２つのスイッチを同時に３秒以上押し続けることはほとんど起こり得ないと思われる。また、トイレ使用者がリモコン２０の操作を誤って、温風乾燥の開始と停止を指示するスイッチとを３秒押し続けることも考えにくい。従って、このような条件に設定しておけば、長い期間蓄積された学習データを誤って初期化してしまうことを避けることができるのである。
【０２６１】
以上、説明してきたように、本実施例の衛生装置１０では、トイレの使用を検出してトイレ使用状況を学習するとともに、学習結果と設定されている制御モードとを考慮しながら適した制御内容を決定している。その結果、トイレ環境の快適さを損なうことなく、エネルギ使用量の更なる節約を達成することが可能である。
【０２６２】
尚、以上の説明においては、複数のスイッチを同時に押し続けることによって初期化動作が開始されるものとしたが、所定の複数のスイッチを所定の順序で押したときに、初期化動作が開始されるものとすることもできる。この時に、複数のスイッチを操作する順序を、通常の使用においては起こり得ないような順序とすることが好ましい。例えば、温風乾燥スイッチ９５４，ビデスイッチ９５２，おしり洗浄スイッチ９５０のスイッチを、この順番に所定時間内に押すと初期化されるようにしてもよい。
【０２６３】
温風乾燥スイッチ９５４はおしり洗浄あるいはビデ洗浄の後に使用されることから、通常の使用においては、おしり洗浄スイッチ９５０あるいはビデスイッチ９５２を押した後、程なく温風乾燥スイッチ９５４が押されるものと考えられ、温風乾燥スイッチ９５４が押される直前には、止スイッチ９５６が押されているはずである。従って、温風乾燥スイッチ９５４が押されたときに、このようなスイッチの操作がされていたか否かによって、トイレ使用者が温風乾燥の開始を指示しているのか、初期化動作の実施を指示しているのかを区別することが可能である。また、通常の使用においては、温風乾燥スイッチ９５４の操作後には、その温風乾燥を停止すべく止スイッチ９５６を押すはずであるところを、温風乾燥スイッチ９５４に続いてビデスイッチ９５２が押されていることから、通常の使用ではないことを識別することができ、続いておしり洗浄スイッチ９５０が押されていることから、何らかの誤動作により誤って初期化されてしまう危険性を排除することが可能である。
【０２６４】
以上、各種の実施例について説明してきたが、本発明は上記すべての実施例に限られるものではなく、その要旨を逸脱しない範囲において種々の態様で実施することができる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本実施例の衛生装置の概略構成を示す説明図である
【図２】本実施例の衛生装置のケーシング内に各種の衛生機能に関する部品が収納されている様子を示す説明図である。
【図３】本実施例の衛生装置におけるノズルユニットの給水系統の概略構成を示す説明図である。
【図４】本実施例の衛生装置における温風ユニットおよび室暖ユニットの概略構成を示す説明図である。
【図５】本実施例の衛生装置における脱臭ユニットの概略構成を示す説明図である。
【図６】本実施例の衛生装置における暖房便座ユニットの概略構成を示す説明図である。
【図７】本実施例の衛生装置における衛生機能の制御概要を示す説明図である。
【図８】本実施例の衛生装置がトイレの使用を検出する各種方法を概念的に示す説明図である。
【図９】本実施例の衛生装置において１日を複数の時間帯に分割する様子を示す説明図である。
【図１０】本実施例の衛生装置においてトイレ使用情報を記憶するデータ枠の概要を示す説明図である。
【図１１】本実施例の衛生装置がトイレ使用情報を蓄積する処理の流れを示すフローチャートである。
【図１２】本実施例の衛生装置が複数のセンサの出力に基づいてトイレの使用を検出する方法を示す説明図である。
【図１３】本実施例の衛生装置が複数のセンサの出力に基づいてトイレの使用形態を検出する方法を示す説明図である。
【図１４】本実施例の衛生装置がトイレの使用形態を区別してトイレ使用情報を蓄積している様子を示す説明図である。
【図１５】本実施例の衛生装置における制御データ枠と学習データ枠との関係を概念的に示す説明図である。
【図１６】学習データ枠と制御データ枠に書き込まれているデータを概念的に示した説明図である。
【図１７】本実施例の衛生装置がトイレ使用頻度を予測する処理の流れを示すフローチャートである。
【図１８】本実施例の衛生装置がトイレ使用頻度を予測する他の処理の流れを示すフローチャートである。
【図１９】トイレ使用情報を蓄積した日によって異なる重みを付けてトイレ使用頻度を算出する時に用いられる重み係数の一例を示す説明図である。
【図２０】本実施例の衛生装置がトイレの平均使用回数に応じて閾値を変更する方法について示す説明図である。
【図２１】算出されたトイレ使用頻度の分布に応じて、閾値の値を変更する方法について説明する説明図である。
【図２２】本実施例の衛生装置における閾値の設定処理の流れを示すフローチャートである。
【図２３】トイレ使用情報として記憶されているトイレの使用時刻に基づいて各時刻でのトイレ使用頻度を算出する方法を概念的に示す説明図である。
【図２４】トイレ使用情報として記憶されているトイレの使用時刻に基づいて各時間帯でのトイレ使用頻度を算出する方法を概念的に示す説明図である。
【図２５】本実施例の衛生装置における補助操作部を例示した説明図である。
【図２６】本実施例の衛生装置が制御モードとトイレ使用頻度に基づいてトイレ環境を制御する一例を示す説明図である。
【図２７】本実施例の衛生装置が制御モードとトイレ使用頻度に基づいてトイレ環境を制御する他の一例を示す説明図である。
【図２８】本実施例の衛生装置が省エネつまみの設定に応じて、トイレ使用頻度の予測値の割合を変更する一例を概念的に示す説明図である。
【図２９】本実施例の衛生装置がトイレ使用頻度に応じてトイレ環境を制御する方法の一例を示す説明図である。
【図３０】本実施例の衛生装置がトイレ使用頻度に応じてトイレ環境を制御する方法の他の一例を示す説明図である。
【図３１】本実施例の衛生装置がトイレ使用状況の学習を完了する前にトイレ使用頻度を予測する方法を示す説明図である。
【図３２】本実施例の衛生装置における電力の供給経路の一例を概念的に示した説明図である。
【図３３】本実施例の衛生装置が電源切断による時間のズレを補正する方法の一例を示す説明図である。
【図３４】本実施例の衛生装置が電源切断による時間のズレを補正する方法の他の一例を示す説明図である。
【図３５】本実施例の衛生装置が電源切断による時間のズレを補正する処理の流れを示すフローチャートである。
【図３６】本実施例の衛生装置が電源切断による時間のズレを補正する方法の他の一例を示す説明図である。
【図３７】本実施例の衛生装置におけるリモコンの操作部の一例を示す説明図である。
【符号の説明】
１０…衛生装置
１２…便座
１４…便蓋
１６…ケーシング
１８…補助操作部
２０…リモコン
９２…分岐金具
９４…給水アダプタ
１００…ノズルユニット
１０２…洗浄用ノズル
１０４…ビデ洗浄用ノズル
１０６…ノズル洗浄室
１１０…ミキシングユニット
１１２…逆止弁
１１４…調圧弁
１１６…電磁弁
１１８…熱交換器
１２０…冷水サーミスタ
１２２…温水サーミスタ
１２４…ミキシング弁
１２６…ミキシングモータ
１２８…吐水サーミスタ
１４０…流調ユニット
１４２…流調切替弁
１４４…バイパス弁
２００…温風ユニット
２０２…シロッコファン
２０４…ファンモータ
２０６…温風ヒータ
２０８…サーミスタ
３００…暖房便座ユニット
３０２…便座ヒータ
３０４…便座サーミスタ
４００…室暖ユニット
４０８…サーミスタ
５００…脱臭ユニット
５０２…オゾナイザ
５０４…オゾナイザドライバ
５０６…シロッコファン
５０８…脱臭モータ
５１０…触媒
６００…ＡＣ制御ユニット
７００…ＤＣ制御ユニット
７０２…ＣＰＵ
７０４…ＲＯＭ
７０６…ＲＡＭ
７０８…不揮発性メモリ
７１０…内蔵時計
７１０…不揮発性メモリ
７１２…タイマ
７１４…通信回路
７１６…ＰＩＯ
７１８…バス
７３０…商用電源
７３２…電源回路
７３４…停電監視部
７３６…電池
８０２…着座スイッチ
８０４…人体センサ
８０６，８０７…フロートスイッチ
８０８…水流センサ
８１０，８１１…洗浄スイッチ
９００…電源スイッチ
９１２…快適運転スイッチ
９１４…省エネ運転スイッチ
９１６…弱省エネ運転スイッチ
９１８…強省エネ運転スイッチ
９５０…おしり洗浄スイッチ
９５２…ビデスイッチ
９５４…温風乾燥スイッチ
９５６…止スイッチ
９５８…室内暖房スイッチ
９６０…ノズル位置調整スイッチ
９６２…ムーブスイッチ
９６４…水勢調整スイッチ
９６６…マッサージスイッチ
９６８…表示部
９７０…時刻表示部[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a technique for controlling a so-called toilet environment such as a heating temperature of a toilet seat, a cleaning water temperature for cleaning a human body part, and a heating temperature in a toilet room.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In order for a toilet user to be able to use a toilet comfortably, a hygiene device that controls a so-called toilet environment such as a temperature of a toilet seat, a washing water temperature for washing a human body part, and a heating temperature in a toilet room is widely used. In these sanitary devices, in order to be able to use the toilet comfortably at any time, it is necessary to always warm the toilet seat and washing water to an appropriate temperature even when the toilet is not in use. Uses energy such as electric power.
[0003]
In order to keep the toilet seat and washing water warm even when the toilet is not in use, a large amount of energy such as electric power is consumed, so a technology to save energy consumption within the range that does not impair the comfort of the toilet environment is proposed. Has been. For example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-161572, a time zone in which a toilet is used is learned by detecting the toilet user's human body, and a time zone in which the toilet is used is predicted from a learning result, and a toilet seat or washing A technique for controlling the temperature of water or the like is disclosed. With this technology, the temperature of the toilet seat and washing water is warmed during the time when toilet use is predicted, and the toilet is used comfortably. On the other hand, the control temperature of the toilet seat is lowered during times when use is not predicted. By setting to, energy can be saved.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, with this technology, it is possible to save energy to some extent without compromising the comfort of the toilet environment, but the comfort of the toilet environment and energy saving are usually in a trade-off relationship. In order to save energy, there is a problem that it is inevitable to sacrifice the comfort of the toilet environment. In order to further save energy, it is necessary to further lower the control temperature of the toilet seat or the like in a time zone where the use of the toilet is not predicted, and to increase the time zone in which the control temperature of the toilet seat or the like is set lower. If the toilet seat and wash water control temperature is too low, the toilet user will feel uncomfortable. Further, if the time period for setting the control temperature to be lower is increased, the toilet user is likely to feel uncomfortable accordingly.
[0005]
However, to prevent the user from feeling uncomfortable whenever the toilet is used, the control temperature of the toilet seat, washing water, etc. is limited so that it does not become too low, or the time period when the control temperature is set low is not much. If it is restricted so as not to increase, further energy saving cannot be achieved.
[0006]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems in the prior art, and can further reduce the amount of energy used in the sanitary device while minimizing discomfort for the toilet user. The purpose is to provide the technology.
[0007]
[Means for solving the problems and their functions and effects]
In order to solve at least a part of the problems described above, the sanitary apparatus of the present invention employs the following configuration. That is,
A sanitary device having a plurality of toilet environment control modes,
Control mode detecting means for detecting a control mode selected from the plurality of control modes;
Toilet use detecting means for detecting use of the toilet;
Toilet use information storage means for storing toilet use information, which is information related to the time at which use of the toilet is detected;
Control content determination means for determining the control content of the toilet environment based on the detected control mode and the stored toilet use information,
Toilet environment control means for controlling the toilet environment based on the determined control content;
It is a summary to provide.
[0008]
In addition, the toilet environment control method of the present invention corresponding to the sanitary apparatus of the present invention,
A toilet environment control method comprising a plurality of control modes and controlling the toilet environment according to a control mode selected from the control modes,
Detecting a control mode selected from the plurality of control modes;
Detecting the use of the toilet,
Storing toilet use information as information related to the time when the use of the toilet is detected;
Based on the detected control mode and the stored toilet use information, determine the control content of the toilet environment,
The gist is to control the toilet environment based on the determined control content.
[0009]
In such a sanitary apparatus and toilet environment control method, when a control mode selected from a plurality of control modes is detected in advance and use of the toilet is detected, toilet use information as information related to the detected time Remember. Here, the information related to the time when the toilet is used may be the time when the toilet is used, or, for example, the day is subdivided into several time zones, and how many times the toilet is used in any time zone. May be information such as whether or not is used. The control mode is a control characteristic set according to the characteristics of the toilet user, such as an energy saving operation mode or an elderly operation mode. Then, based on the detected control mode and the stored toilet use information, the control content of the toilet environment is determined, and the control of the toilet environment is performed based on the determined control content.
[0010]
In this way, the toilet environment is controlled in consideration of not only the stored toilet use information but also the selected control mode, so it can be used with sanitary equipment without causing discomfort to the toilet user. Energy can be further saved. That is, when the toilet is used, for example, if the toilet seat temperature or the washing water for washing the human body part is often cold and uncomfortable, another control mode may be selected to improve the toilet environment. Conversely, if the temperature of the toilet seat, wash water, etc. can be set lower or the time zone for setting the control temperature lower can be further expanded, the selected control mode can be changed and further It is possible to save energy.
[0011]
In addition, even in the same toilet environment, whether or not the environment feels uncomfortable is naturally different for each toilet user. For example, a toilet user who feels that the temperature of the wash water for washing the human body area is cold, but that is rare, can be acceptable to save energy consumption of sanitary equipment On the other hand, some toilet users may find it uncomfortable and unacceptable even if it occurs very rarely. In addition, toilet users who feel that the toilet seat and wash water temperature are very cold can be unpleasant even if they occur very rarely, but that the toilet seat and wash water temperature can feel acceptable even if it occurs frequently. It is thought that there is also.
[0012]
Certainly, as long as the energy consumed by the sanitary device can be saved to some extent as in the past, it is determined from the stored toilet usage information the times when the toilet is not used. This could be achieved by setting the control temperature of the wash water slightly lower. However, if the control temperature is set to a lower level or the time zone for setting the control temperature to a lower level is expanded in order to further save energy, the difference in the way of feeling for each toilet user as described above is obstructed. As a result, energy cannot be saved without sacrificing the comfort of the toilet environment. If the control temperature setting and the time period for controlling the control temperature to be low are set according to the average toilet user, some toilet users feel uncomfortable using the toilet, and some toilet users Feel the energy savings are insufficient. In other words, if it is set according to the average toilet user, a considerable proportion of toilet users cannot achieve both the comfort of the toilet environment and energy saving.
[0013]
On the other hand, in the sanitary apparatus and the toilet environment control method of the present invention, the control content of the toilet environment is determined in consideration of not only the stored toilet use information but also the detected control mode. Therefore, if the setting of the control mode is changed according to the toilet user, it becomes possible for all toilet users to achieve both comfort of the toilet environment and energy saving. In other words, energy can be saved to the maximum without sacrificing the comfort of the toilet environment.
[0014]
As the simplest example, when controlling the toilet environment, there are two modes: a control mode that considers energy saving (hereinafter referred to as a power saving mode) and a control mode that does not consider it (hereinafter referred to as a comfort mode). It is possible to achieve both the comfort of the toilet environment and the saving of energy to some extent by simply providing the toilet. In other words, in order to save energy, the toilet user who thinks that the comfort of the toilet environment may be somewhat sacrificed selects the power saving mode, while the toilet user who considers the comfort of the toilet environment first is comfortable. The mode is considered to be selected. Therefore, in the power saving mode, the toilet user is unlikely to feel uncomfortable even if the control is performed so as to save energy slightly beyond the range that most people can tolerate. If the user feels uncomfortable, the comfort mode may be selected. Therefore, the comfort of the toilet environment is not sacrificed, and overall energy saving can be promoted.
[0015]
In such a sanitary device, the use of the toilet may be detected by detecting the operation of the function of the toilet. If the operation of the function of the toilet is detected, the use of the toilet can be accurately detected, and thus the accurate toilet use information can be stored. If accurate toilet usage information can be stored, it is preferable because the toilet environment can be appropriately controlled.
[0016]
As the operation of the function of such a toilet, the operation of the function of washing the toilet bowl may be detected. When a toilet is used, it is normal to wash the toilet bowl, and the toilet bowl is easy to detect and can be reliably detected. For this reason, if the operation | movement of the washing | cleaning function of a toilet bowl is detected, since the usage information of a toilet can be memorize | stored correctly, it is suitable.
[0017]
In a toilet equipped with a tank for storing toilet flush water, the operation of the toilet flush function may be detected by detecting a change in the water level in the tank. If the toilet bowl is washed, the water level in the tank is lowered, and such a change in the water level can be detected easily and accurately, so that toilet use information can be easily and accurately stored. If the toilet use information is accurate, it is preferable that the toilet environment can be appropriately controlled accordingly. In addition, when the toilet is used for stool and when it is used for urine, the amount of water used for toilet cleaning differs, and the change in the water level in the tank differs accordingly. For example, it is possible to detect whether the toilet is used for stool or urine, and there is an advantage that the possibility of controlling the toilet environment more finely is created.
[0018]
In such a sanitary device, the operation of the toilet cleaning function may be detected by detecting the flow of water flowing in the piping in order to supply cleaning water to the toilet. As a method of detecting the water flow in the pipe, various known methods such as a method of detecting the water flow using the movement of the vane and a method of using ultrasonic waves or electromagnetic force can be applied. Since the water flow in the pipe can also be detected easily and accurately, it is preferable that toilet use information can be easily and accurately stored. In addition, this method has an advantage that the degree of freedom in design is high because there is no need to detect the location of the water flow as long as there is a pipe for supplying cleaning water to the toilet.
[0019]
Further, the operation of the toilet flushing function may be detected by detecting a predetermined operation for washing the toilet bowl, for example, an operation of a washing lever or opening / closing of a solenoid valve that controls a flow of washing water. In order to clean the toilet bowl, certain operations for cleaning, such as operation of a cleaning lever and opening / closing of a solenoid valve, must be performed. By detecting these predetermined operations, toilet cleaning is reliably detected. And can store accurate toilet usage information.
[0020]
Such a sanitary device may detect the use of the toilet by detecting the operation of the function of receiving filth in the toilet as a function of the toilet. When a toilet is used, the toilet always receives filth, and this method is preferable because the use of the toilet can be reliably detected.
[0021]
As a method for detecting that the toilet has received filth, for example, a temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the portion where the toilet is in contact with the filth is provided, and the sewage has been received based on the temperature change detected by the detecting means. May be detected. Usually, since the filth is warm, the temperature of the surface of the toilet receiving the filth rises, and it is possible to reliably detect the filth received by this temperature change. Moreover, even if water is passed through the toilet for cleaning the toilet, the temperature of the toilet surface does not rise as if filth is received. Therefore, this method also has an advantage that there is no possibility of erroneously detecting toilet cleaning or the like as use of the toilet.
[0022]
Such a sanitary device may detect the use of the toilet by detecting the operation of the function of cleaning the human body part as a function of the toilet. Usually, since the sanitary apparatus performs the cleaning of the human body part, the sanitary apparatus can easily detect this, which is preferable.
[0023]
Such a sanitary device may detect the operation of the function of drying the human body part after washing the human body part as a function of the toilet. Since drying of the human body part performed after washing is usually performed by a sanitary device, the sanitary device can easily detect this, which is preferable.
[0024]
Moreover, this sanitary apparatus may detect the function which performs the illumination of a toilet as a function which a toilet has. Except for the daytime, when the toilet is used, the illumination of the toilet is almost always turned on, and the fact that the illumination is turned on is suitable because it can be easily and accurately detected.
[0025]
Furthermore, the use of the toilet may be detected by detecting opening and closing of the toilet door. Normally, a toilet is a private room and a door is provided to prevent the inside of the toilet from being seen from the outside. Therefore, the use of the toilet can be easily and accurately detected by detecting the opening and closing of the door. it can.
[0026]
Such a sanitary device may detect use of the toilet by detecting the function of the toilet that supports the weight of the toilet user sitting on the toilet. When the toilet user sits on the toilet seat, a large load is applied to the toilet seat, so that the use of the toilet can be reliably detected even if an inexpensive sensor such as a contact switch is used. For this reason, if toilet use is detected using such a method, accurate toilet use information can be stored, and if the toilet use information is accurate, the toilet environment can be appropriately controlled accordingly. Therefore, it is preferable. In addition, since a heavy load is applied to the toilet seat, it is possible to reliably detect the use of the toilet even if a sensor of a method that utilizes a change in capacitance or electric resistance value due to a change in pressure is applied. Of course.
[0027]
Such a sanitary device may detect use of the toilet when the operation of a plurality of functions of the toilet is detected. If the operation of a plurality of toilet functions is detected and it is determined that the toilet is used, there is no possibility of erroneously detecting the use of the toilet, and accurate toilet use information can be stored, which is preferable.
[0028]
In a sanitary apparatus equipped with a human body detecting means for detecting a human body of a toilet user, when the operation of the function of the toilet is detected, it is determined that the toilet has been used. Also good. Even if it does in this way, since there is no possibility of detecting use of a toilet accidentally, it is preferable.
[0029]
In such a sanitary apparatus, the presence of a toilet user may be detected in a non-contact manner by an optical or acoustic method using various known sensors such as a photo sensor and a microphone. Use of such a method is preferable because the use of the toilet can be accurately detected without making the toilet user aware of the detection.
[0030]
In such a sanitary device, for example, the presence of the toilet user may be detected by detecting infrared rays emitted by the toilet user using a sensor that uses a pyroelectric effect or a photoelectric effect. Such a method is suitable because the degree of freedom of the sensor mounting position is high and the toilet user can be detected relatively reliably.
[0031]
In such a sanitary device, the presence of a toilet user may be detected based on whether light or sound waves are blocked. In other words, if a toilet is used, light or sound waves are emitted in a predetermined direction in which the human body of the toilet user will be present, and a light or sound wave detection device is provided on the emitted route. If a toilet is used, the emitted light or sound wave is blocked by the toilet user's body and does not reach the detection device. Therefore, depending on whether the emitted light or sound wave is detected by the detection device, the toilet The presence or absence of a user can be determined.
[0032]
Of course, a light / sound wave detector is installed not on the side of the toilet user but on the side of the light / sound wave emitting means, and the presence / absence of the toilet user is determined by the presence / absence of light or sound wave reflected from the toilet user. May be judged.
[0033]
In the sanitary device of the present invention, at least a predetermined period (for example, one day) of toilet use information is stored, and based on the toilet use information, a toilet use frequency that is an index representing the ease of use of the toilet is calculated. The toilet environment control content may be determined based on the calculated toilet use frequency and the detected control mode.
[0034]
For example, when the toilet is easily used, that is, when the frequency of toilet use is calculated to be high, the toilet seat or the wash water of the human body is warmed, and conversely, the toilet is not used, that is, the toilet is used. In the time when the frequency is calculated as zero, the temperature of water such as a toilet seat and washing is not controlled, thereby avoiding energy waste. Also, during times when toilets are used from time to time, that is, when the frequency of toilet use is calculated to be medium, control temperature settings such as toilet seat temperature and wash water temperature, and control time, etc., depending on the selected control mode Change the belt. Therefore, in such a sanitary device, by selecting a control mode suitable for the toilet user in advance, the energy consumed by the sanitary device is greatly saved while avoiding the toilet user from feeling uncomfortable using the toilet. It becomes possible.
[0035]
In such a sanitary device, the toilet usage frequency is not calculated every moment, but the day is divided into a plurality of time zones, and the toilet usage frequency takes the same value in each time zone. The usage frequency may be calculated. In this way, if the toilet use frequency is not calculated every moment, but is calculated for each time zone, the load of the hygiene device to calculate the toilet use frequency can be reduced, and it is highly functional and expensive. This is preferable because it is not necessary to provide a calculation means. Each time zone does not necessarily have the same length of time. For example, the time zone where the toilet is difficult to use such as midnight may be lengthened, and the time zone where the toilet is likely to be used may be divided short.
[0036]
Further, in such a sanitary device, not only the toilet use frequency is calculated for each of a plurality of time zones, but the toilet use information may be divided into a plurality of time zones and stored. That is, when one day is divided into a plurality of time zones and the toilet is used, the number of times the toilet is used in the time zone corresponding to the used time is increased one by one. As a result, toilet usage information is stored as the number of times the toilet is used in each time zone. The toilet use frequency is calculated based on the stored toilet use information. It should be noted that the plurality of time zones for storing the toilet use information and the plurality of time zones for calculating the toilet use frequency are not necessarily the same. Of course, the length of each time zone does not necessarily have to be the same.
[0037]
Thus, storing the toilet use information as the number of times the toilet is used in each time zone is preferable because the memory capacity necessary for storing the toilet use information is reduced. In addition, storing toilet usage information as the number of times the toilet is used in each time zone and calculating the toilet usage frequency for each time zone also has the advantage of simplifying the process of calculating the toilet usage frequency. .
[0038]
In the method of storing the toilet usage information and calculating the toilet usage frequency for each time zone, each time zone for storing the toilet usage information and each time zone for calculating the toilet usage frequency are used. These settings may be matched with each other. This is preferable because the process for calculating the toilet use frequency can be simplified.
[0039]
Moreover, you may set each time slot | zone so that each time slot | zone for memorize | stores toilet use information and each time slot | zone in order to calculate a toilet use frequency may alternate. That is, each time zone is set so that the division position of each time zone for calculating the toilet usage frequency is one for each time zone for storing toilet usage information. Then, when calculating the toilet usage frequency for a certain time zone, the toilet usage frequency is calculated using the toilet usage information stored in two time zones that have boundaries within the time zone. If the toilet usage frequency is calculated based on the toilet usage information stored in the two time zones as described above, the toilet usage frequency is calculated to a relatively stable value even if the toilet usage time slightly deviates. This is preferable.
[0040]
The sanitary device of the present invention applies a predetermined calculation formula to stored toilet use information, compares the calculated value obtained with a predetermined threshold value, and increases the toilet use frequency if the calculated value is greater than the threshold value, for example. If the arithmetic expression is smaller than the threshold value, the toilet use frequency may be calculated by decreasing the toilet use frequency. If the toilet use frequency is calculated by such a method, it is preferable because the control process of the toilet environment can be simplified as compared with the case where the calculated value is used as it is. Of course, two or more threshold values may be prepared as necessary, and the toilet use frequency may be determined in detail by comparing each threshold value with a calculated value. This is preferable because the toilet environment can be finely controlled without greatly impairing the simplicity of control.
[0041]
In such a sanitary device, a plurality of types of arithmetic expressions may be prepared, and the toilet use frequency may be calculated by switching the plurality of arithmetic expressions according to a predetermined condition. As the predetermined condition, for example, a detected control mode or a condition such as a result of evaluating a toilet use status with a predetermined arithmetic expression can be used. According to such a method, for example, the toilet use frequency can be calculated flexibly or more appropriately by switching the arithmetic expression between when the toilet use frequency takes a small value and when the toilet use frequency takes a large value. As a result, the toilet environment can be more appropriately controlled, which is preferable.
[0042]
In such a sanitary device, the calculated toilet use frequency distribution may be compared with a predetermined distribution, and the threshold value may be changed so that the toilet use frequency becomes a predetermined distribution. This is preferable because the threshold value can be corrected to an appropriate value in accordance with the use situation of the toilet. For example, if the same threshold value is used in a household where a large family frequently uses a toilet and a small family where the number of toilets used is low, the frequency of toilet use will increase throughout the day in a large family home. Savings cannot be achieved, and the comfort of the toilet environment tends to be impaired because the frequency of toilet use is low throughout the day in small family homes. On the other hand, if the threshold value is changed so that the distribution of toilet use frequency becomes a predetermined distribution, both the comfort of the toilet environment and the saving of energy usage can be achieved in a form suitable for each household. Is possible.
[0043]
Further, in the sanitary device, when the time when the toilet use frequency is calculated to be equal to or less than a predetermined value exceeds a predetermined time, the predetermined threshold value is corrected so that the calculation time is reduced. May be. For example, in households where the total number of toilets used is small, such as small families, the calculated toilet use frequency tends to be small, but as described above, the toilet environment becomes more comfortable as the toilet use frequency decreases. They are easily damaged and therefore tend to be more uncomfortable when using toilets in these households. Even in such a case, by changing the value of the predetermined threshold so that the time when the toilet use frequency is calculated to be less than the predetermined value does not exceed the predetermined time, it will not feel uncomfortable when using the toilet Is preferable.
[0044]
When the toilet use information is stored for a plurality of days, the toilet use frequency may be calculated by appropriately weighting according to the stored date. For example, when referring to toilet usage information to calculate the toilet usage frequency, the toilet usage frequency is calculated with different weights depending on how many days ago the toilet usage information was stored. For example, depending on the type of work, etc., the days when the toilet is used frequently and the days when it is used often appear in a certain cycle, but by assigning an appropriate weight depending on the date when the information was stored, for example, how many days ago it was stored, It becomes possible to calculate toilet use information appropriately. The stored date may be, for example, information related to the day of the week stored in addition to the date indicating how many days ago it was stored, and may be a calendar date. Absent.
[0045]
Further, when the toilet use frequency is calculated by such a method, the toilet use frequency may be calculated by giving a greater weight to the toilet use information with a newer stored date. In this way, even if the toilet user changes, for example, when the toilet user goes on a long vacation, it is possible to quickly respond to the change in the toilet usage pattern and appropriately control the toilet environment. It is.
[0046]
Alternatively, the toilet use frequency may be calculated by giving a great weight to the toilet use information seven days before the day on which control is to be performed. The toilet user's life pattern often changes periodically in units of 7 days, that is, 1 week, so if you use the weight of the information 7 days ago and calculate the toilet usage information, it will be calculated more appropriately. This is preferable.
[0047]
Of course, the newer toilet usage information of the stored date may be given a greater weight, and the toilet usage frequency may be calculated by assigning a greater weight to the toilet usage information seven days ago. By doing so, it is possible to appropriately calculate the toilet use frequency by predicting periodic fluctuations in units of one week, and it is also possible to respond quickly to changes in lifestyle patterns.
[0048]
As described above, the sanitary device of the present invention includes a plurality of control modes, but each control mode can be a control mode corresponding to a difference that allows the comfort of the toilet environment to be impaired. If each control mode is such a control mode, an appropriate control mode can be selected according to the degree to which the toilet user requests the comfort of the toilet environment. Controlling the toilet environment based on the control mode thus selected and the stored toilet use information is preferable because it is possible to further save energy without impairing the comfort of the toilet environment.
[0049]
In such a sanitary device, each control mode may be a control mode corresponding to a difference in energy amount required per unit time. Thus, if each control mode is provided according to the energy amount required for control of the toilet environment, an appropriate control mode can be selected according to the extent to which the toilet user desires to save energy consumption. . Therefore, it is preferable because the toilet environment can be comfortably controlled while securing the energy saving amount desired by the toilet user.
[0050]
The sanitary device of the present invention determines the target temperature of the control target based on the selected control mode and the stored toilet use information, and performs control so that the control target becomes the determined target temperature. It can be set as the apparatus which controls an environment. Whether or not a toilet user feels comfortable using the toilet is strongly related to the temperature of the toilet seat, the temperature of the wash water used to wash the human body, the temperature inside the toilet room, etc. The toilet environment can be comfortably controlled by controlling the determined target temperature.
[0051]
In such a sanitary apparatus, the toilet use frequency is calculated from the stored toilet use information, the target temperature to be controlled is determined based on the calculated toilet use frequency and the detected control mode, and the determined target temperature is determined. You may control to. Thus, it is preferable to control the temperature based on the control mode and the toilet usage frequency because the toilet environment can be appropriately controlled.
[0052]
In such a sanitary device, the toilet environment may be controlled as follows. The selected control mode is detected, and the toilet use frequency is calculated based on the stored toilet use information. Based on the toilet use frequency calculated in this way, the first target temperature and the second target temperature are selected. Here, the first target temperature is the temperature of the toilet seat that is comfortable when the toilet is used, the washing water temperature of the human body local area, or the like. Further, the second target temperature is lower than the first target temperature. When the use of the toilet is detected, the control temperature of the toilet seat, washing water, and the like is lowered from the first target temperature to the second target temperature, and after the predetermined time, the second target temperature is changed again to the first target temperature. To rise. That is, immediately after the toilet is used, it is considered that there is little possibility that the toilet will be used, so the predetermined time after detecting the use of the toilet is lowered to the second target temperature for a predetermined time. After that, by controlling again at the first target temperature, energy can be saved without impairing the toilet environment.
[0053]
It should be noted that the time when the control target temperature is lowered from the first target temperature to the second target temperature may be after the use of the toilet is not detected, but the temperature of the toilet seat and the wash water is drastically affected by the heat capacity. Since it does not change, the control temperature may be changed immediately after the use of the toilet is detected. Furthermore, after detecting the use of the toilet, it may be changed through a predetermined pattern.
[0054]
Further, the timing for increasing the control target temperature from the second target temperature to the first target temperature may be increased rapidly after a predetermined time has elapsed, but is gradually increased over a predetermined time. Also good. Further, it may rise after a predetermined time through a predetermined pattern.
[0055]
In such a sanitary device, the predetermined time for raising the control temperature of the toilet seat or the like from the second target temperature to the first target temperature may be changed based on the detected control mode and the calculated toilet use frequency. . For example, in times when the toilet is used frequently, the time between the use of the toilet and the next use is considered to be short. Conversely, in times when the toilet is used less frequently, the time until the next use is used. Is considered to be long. Therefore, it is preferable to change the predetermined time for raising the control temperature again according to the control mode and the toilet use frequency, because energy consumption can be saved without deteriorating the comfort of the toilet environment.
[0056]
In such a sanitary device, the second target temperature may be changed based on the detected control mode and the calculated toilet use frequency. For example, if it is thought that the toilet user strongly desires to use a comfortable toilet, even if the toilet is used during the time when the temperature of the toilet seat is controlled to the second target temperature, the toilet is used The second target temperature is changed to a higher value so that the person does not feel uncomfortable. In addition, if the frequency of toilet use is high, the possibility that the toilet will be used again immediately after using the toilet is considered to be high, so even if the toilet is used during the time period controlled to the second target temperature, The second target temperature is changed to a higher value so that the user does not feel uncomfortable. Conversely, when it is considered that the toilet user strongly desires to save energy, or when the toilet use frequency is a small value, the second target temperature is changed to a lower value.
[0057]
By doing so, it becomes possible to further save energy without impairing the comfort of the toilet environment.
[0058]
In this sanitary device, the temperature difference between the first target temperature and the second target temperature may be changed based on the detected control mode and the calculated toilet use frequency. For example, even when toilet seats and wash water are at the same temperature, it is often experienced that they feel cold in summer and warm in winter. Therefore, comparing the summer temperature setting with the winter temperature setting, it is considered that both the first target temperature and the second target temperature are set higher in the summer than in the winter. In this way, if the difference between the first target temperature and the second target temperature is set instead of setting the second target temperature, even if the season changes, the first target temperature By simply changing the setting, the second target temperature is appropriately changed, so that the toilet environment can be comfortably controlled.
[0059]
Furthermore, in such a sanitary device, the control target temperature may be changed from the first target temperature to the second target temperature only when the toilet use frequency is medium. That is, if the frequency of toilet use is high, it is highly likely that the toilet will be used immediately after the toilet is used. In such a case, the control temperature of the toilet seat or the like can be lowered to the second target temperature. If the toilet user is likely to feel uncomfortable, and the toilet is used frequently, the control target temperature is not lowered. Also, if the toilet usage frequency is low, even if the control temperature of the toilet seat, etc. is always controlled to the second target temperature, it is unlikely that the toilet will be used and the user will feel uncomfortable. It is thought that it will meet the demands of the toilet user by greatly saving energy by setting. Therefore, only when the toilet usage frequency is moderate, it is preferable that the control temperature is lowered for a predetermined time, so that further energy can be saved without impairing the comfort of the toilet environment.
[0060]
In such a sanitary device, when the use of the toilet is detected while the control temperature of the toilet or the like is being controlled to the second target temperature, the control temperature is raised to the first target temperature for a predetermined time. The control may be performed so that the second target temperature is reached again after a predetermined time has elapsed. For example, the usage pattern of the toilet may suddenly change due to a visitor or the like, and the toilet may be frequently used during a time when the toilet is not normally used. Even in such a case, when the use of the toilet is detected while the temperature of the toilet or the like is controlled to the second target temperature, the sanitary device of the present invention is determined in consideration of the possibility that the use pattern of the toilet has changed. Control is performed at the first target temperature only for the time, and control is performed to the second target temperature after a predetermined time has elapsed. Therefore, even if the toilet usage pattern is suddenly changed by a visitor or the like, it is preferable that the toilet user can avoid feeling uncomfortable.
[0061]
In such a sanitary device, when the use of the toilet is detected during the control to the second target temperature, the control temperature may always be the first target temperature during the period in which the use of the toilet is detected. This is preferable because, for example, even if there is a person who uses the toilet for a long time during a visitor, the target temperature becomes low during use of the toilet and there is no possibility of feeling uncomfortable.
[0062]
Furthermore, in such a sanitary device, the control temperature may be set as the first target temperature for a predetermined period after the period when the use of the toilet is detected and after the use of the toilet is not detected. This is preferable because the toilet can be used comfortably for a predetermined time even after using the toilet for a long time.
[0063]
In the sanitary device of the present invention, the toilet use information for a predetermined plurality of days is stored, the toilet use frequency is calculated based on the stored toilet use information, and the stored toilet use information is satisfied for the predetermined plurality of days. If not, the toilet use frequency may be calculated using a method different from that after storing the toilet use information for a predetermined number of days. This is preferable because the toilet environment can be controlled based on the calculated toilet use frequency even during the period until the toilet use information for a plurality of days is accumulated. In particular, in order to improve the accuracy of the toilet use frequency to be calculated, a sanitary apparatus that calculates based on toilet use information for many days requires a long period of time to store all of the predetermined days. Therefore, if the toilet environment is controlled based on the frequency of use of the toilet calculated by such a method, the energy consumption of the sanitary apparatus can be saved without sacrificing the toilet environment until the toilet usage information for a predetermined period is stored. This is preferable.
[0064]
In such a sanitary device, until all the toilet use information for a predetermined number of days is stored, the toilet use frequency may be calculated to be larger as the number of stored toilet use information is smaller. In other words, if the number of days of stored toilet use information is small, the toilet use frequency must be calculated from a small amount of information, so the calculation accuracy tends to be low, and the possibility that the toilet user will feel uncomfortable increases. . Therefore, the smaller the number of days of stored toilet use information, the greater the frequency of use of the toilet, so that it can be avoided that the toilet user feels uncomfortable until a predetermined number of days are stored. is there.
[0065]
In such a sanitary device, the minimum value of the toilet use frequency that can be calculated may be increased as the number of days of stored toilet use information decreases. In other words, when there is still no time since the start of storing the toilet use information, the toilet use frequency should not be less than the predetermined value, and a smaller value of the toilet use frequency is calculated as the stored number of days increases. So that In the first place, the toilet user feels uncomfortable when the temperature of the wash water in the toilet seat or the human body is low, which corresponds to the case where the toilet use frequency is calculated to a small value. Therefore, while the number of days of storage of toilet use information is small, the toilet use frequency is limited so that it does not become smaller than the predetermined value, and the calculation lower limit of the toilet use frequency is reduced as the number of storage days increases and the calculation accuracy improves. Thus, it is possible to save energy without impairing the comfort of the toilet environment until a predetermined number of days are stored.
[0066]
In the sanitary device of the present invention, toilet use information is stored in a so-called volatile memory, and the electric power necessary for maintaining the storage may be supplied from outside the sanitary device. Such a sanitary device may be provided with power storage means such as a battery or a capacitor for storing power of a predetermined voltage, and when the sanitary device fails, power may be supplied from the power storage device.
[0067]
For example, the toilet usage information stored in the volatile memory when power is not supplied to the sanitary device, that is, when the sanitary device is unplugged due to a power outage or toilet cleaning. All disappear. If the toilet usage information disappears, the toilet usage frequency cannot be calculated to properly control the toilet environment. Again, in order to calculate the toilet use frequency, it is necessary to store the toilet use information from the beginning over a long period of time. On the other hand, when the sanitary apparatus has a power failure, it is preferable to supply power from the power storage means because the stored toilet use information will not disappear.
[0068]
In such a sanitary device, at least a part of the stored toilet use information may be stored in a so-called nonvolatile memory. The nonvolatile memory is a memory that does not require a predetermined voltage to be stored in order to store data, and an EEPROM such as a flash memory can be used. This is preferable because the toilet usage information stored in the nonvolatile memory remains even if the external power supply is interrupted during a power failure or toilet cleaning.
[0069]
In such a sanitary device, the toilet use information, that is, the control before storing the toilet environment is stored in the non-volatile memory before the day when the toilet environment is controlled, that is, whenever the use of the toilet is detected. You may make it memorize | store the toilet use information on the day to perform in a volatile memory. In this way, if past toilet use information is stored in the non-volatile memory, it is possible to avoid the possibility that the memories for a plurality of days will be lost due to a power failure or the like. Since it is necessary to memorize it every time it detects the use of the memory, it is possible to simplify the memory operation by memorizing it in the volatile memory.
[0070]
Furthermore, in such a sanitary device, toilet usage information is stored in the volatile memory each time the use of the toilet is detected, and when storage for a predetermined period (for example, one day, half a day, or several days) is completed, May be transferred to a non-volatile memory. In this way, even if the supply of power is interrupted due to a power failure or the like, only a predetermined period of memory is erased, and it can be suppressed to a small damage. In addition, storing in a non-volatile memory requires a storage operation different from that of a volatile memory, so that it takes a long time to store, and there are problems such as a decrease in storage accuracy when storing many times. However, since it may be stored in the non-volatile memory only once in a predetermined period, it does not cause a big problem.
[0071]
The sanitary apparatus of the present invention is provided with a toilet use timekeeping means that operates by receiving power supply and outputs information related to the time when use of the toilet is detected, and a power storage means for storing a predetermined amount of power. In the event of a power failure of the sanitary device, power may be supplied from the power storage means.
[0072]
For example, when power is not supplied to the sanitary device due to a power failure or the toilet being unplugged to clean the toilet, that is, when the sanitary device is out of power, the toilet timekeeping means uses the toilet. It becomes impossible to output accurate information regarding the detected time. If accurate information cannot be output, accurate toilet usage information cannot be stored, so that the accuracy of calculating the toilet usage frequency is reduced, and the toilet environment cannot be controlled appropriately. On the other hand, if a voltage is supplied from the power storage means at the time of a power failure of the sanitary apparatus, the toilet use time measuring means can output accurate information to the toilet use information storage means, and appropriately control the toilet environment. This is preferable.
[0073]
Such a sanitary device may be provided with a time error correcting means for correcting an error generated in the toilet use time measuring means due to a power failure of the sanitary device by a predetermined method after recovery from the power failure, instead of storing a predetermined amount of power. Good. According to this method, it is not possible to store toilet usage information while power supply is interrupted due to power outage or toilet cleaning, but it is possible to store toilet usage information after power supply is restored. It can be avoided that the control of the toilet environment is greatly influenced by such as.
[0074]
In such a sanitary device, a reference signal may be supplied from the outside of the sanitary device at a predetermined time, and a time error of the toilet use time measuring means due to a power failure or the like may be corrected based on the reference signal. If such a method is used, it is preferable that the time measurement error is corrected after the recovery from a power failure or the like, and subsequent toilet use information can be stored accurately.
[0075]
Moreover, in such a sanitary device, temporary toilet use information is stored every time the toilet is used after returning from a power failure or the like, and thus stored temporary toilet use information and the exact date stored by the previous day are stored. It is also possible to correct the clocking error by comparing the toilet usage information. Since toilets are usually used at the same time every day, compare the stored toilet usage information with the exact stored toilet usage information by the previous day, and compare the temporary toilet usage pattern. If you can find a time that matches the toilet usage pattern up to the previous day by shifting it little by little, you can consider that time as an accurate time. Therefore, if the timing error caused by a power failure or the like is corrected by this method, the toilet use information after the power failure can be accurately stored without supplying a reference signal from the outside.
[0076]
In the sanitary device of the present invention, initialization means for initializing stored toilet use information may be provided. For example, when a toilet user acquires a summer vacation or the working pattern changes, such as when the toilet usage pattern changes, the toilet usage frequency may be calculated based on previously stored toilet usage information. It is difficult to calculate properly. In such a case, it is preferable to initialize the past toilet use information because the use frequency corresponding to the new toilet use pattern can be quickly calculated.
[0077]
In such a sanitary device, toilet usage information may be initialized when a predetermined plurality of buttons are operated by a predetermined method. According to this method, since it is necessary to operate a plurality of buttons by a predetermined method in order to initialize the toilet use information, it is preferable that there is no possibility of accidental initialization. Furthermore, since other operation buttons can be used for the button operated for initialization, it is not necessary to provide a dedicated operation button, which is preferable.
[0078]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below, but in order to facilitate understanding, an outline of the general order and contents of the descriptions will be outlined prior to specific description. In the present specification, embodiments of the invention will be described in five parts. That is, “A. Device configuration”, “B. Toilet usage information learning”, “C. Toilet environment control content based on learning result”, “D. Toilet environment control content before completion of learning”, and There are five “E. Countermeasures for power cuts such as power outages”.
[0079]
In “A. Device Configuration”, the structure of the sanitary device of the present embodiment will be briefly described with a focus on the portion related to the present invention. The sanitary device of the present embodiment is composed of several units having unique functions. In this specification, six units deeply related to the present invention will be taken up and briefly described.
[0080]
“B. Toilet usage information learning” describes a method in which the sanitary apparatus of the present embodiment stores toilet usage information and calculates the toilet usage frequency based on the stored toilet usage information. As described above, the sanitary device of this embodiment stores toilet use information, calculates the use frequency of the toilet based on this information, and based on the calculated use frequency and the control mode set by the toilet user or the like. By controlling the toilet environment, appropriate control can be performed.
[0081]
“C. Controlled content of toilet environment based on learning result” describes a method in which the sanitary apparatus of the present embodiment actually controls the toilet environment based on the toilet use frequency obtained by learning. In the following “D. Control of toilet environment before completion of learning”, the toilet usage information cannot be calculated accurately because the toilet usage information is not sufficiently learned. A method of controlling will be described. Lastly, “E. Countermeasures for power cuts such as power outages” describes countermeasures such as power outages in the sanitary apparatus of this embodiment. In other words, when the power supply cannot be received due to a power outage and the stored toilet use information disappears or accurate toilet use information cannot be stored, the toilet environment is appropriately controlled. It is not possible. In the sanitary apparatus of the present embodiment, various countermeasures are taken so as not to cause this, and the contents of the countermeasures will be described.
[0082]
A. Structure of sanitary equipment
(1) Outline configuration:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a sanitary device 10 that is an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the drawing, the sanitary device 10 includes a toilet seat 12 that is installed and used on a toilet bowl (not shown), a toilet lid 14 that covers the toilet seat 12 when the toilet bowl is not used, and various functions related to various functions of the sanitary device 10. The casing 16 in which these parts are housed, and the remote controller 20 that the toilet user instructs the sanitary device 10 to perform various operations. An auxiliary operation unit 18 is provided in a part of the casing 16, and the toilet user can finely set the operating conditions of the sanitary device 10 by operating the auxiliary operation unit 18. The casing 16 is attached to the toilet bowl using a dedicated fixing bracket, and the toilet seat 12 and the toilet lid 14 are attached to the casing 16 so as to be openable and closable. When using the toilet for men's urinals, use the toilet seat 12 and the toilet lid 14 in the raised state ("open" state), and when using the toilet for urine or girls' urine, use the toilet seat It is used in a state where only 12 is lowered (“closed” state). When the toilet bowl is not used, both the toilet seat 12 and the toilet lid 14 may be lowered.
[0083]
When the sanitary device 10 of this embodiment is attached in place of the toilet lid of the normal toilet seat, water is supplied through the branch fitting, and the power cord is inserted into the outlet, the sanitary device 10 becomes operable. The toilet user gives various instructions to the sanitary device 10 from the remote controller 20 or the auxiliary operation unit 18, thereby cleaning the human body part, drying the local part after washing, heating the toilet seat, room heating, indoor deodorization, etc. The various functions (hereinafter referred to as hygiene functions) can be used.
[0084]
FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a state in which parts relating to various sanitary functions are housed in the casing 16 in the sanitary device 10 of the present embodiment. The central portion of the casing 16 houses a nozzle unit 100 that blows out hot water and cleans the human body part, and various valves (not shown) for supplying hot water to the nozzle unit 100. Next to the nozzle unit 100 is housed a hot air unit 200 that blows out hot air to dry the washed human body part. Next to the hot air unit 200 (on the right side on the paper), deodorizing fecal odors. A deodorizing unit 500 is housed. A room warming unit 400 that heats the room is housed below the auxiliary operation unit 18. Each unit uses an electric actuator such as a heater, an electromagnetic valve, or a motor. An AC control unit 600 that supplies electric power to each actuator is housed in a space above the nozzle unit 100. The operation of the AC control unit 600 is controlled by the DC control unit 700, and the DC control unit 700 is housed between the auxiliary operation unit 18 and the room warming unit 400. Further, the toilet seat 12 of this embodiment can warm the toilet seat to an appropriate temperature by a built-in heater, and a heating toilet seat unit 300 is incorporated in the toilet seat 12 in order to control the temperature of the toilet seat. The AC control unit 600 also supplies power to the heating toilet seat unit 300.
[0085]
(2) Water supply system:
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a water supply system that supplies cleaning water to the nozzle unit 100. As shown in the drawing, the sanitary device 10 of this embodiment takes in water from a water pipe or the like with a branch fitting 92 and introduces water into the device through a water supply adapter 94. A strainer (not shown) is built in the water supply adapter 94 so that foreign matters in pipes such as water pipes do not enter the sanitary device 10.
[0086]
The cleaning water taken into the sanitary device 10 is first introduced into the mixing unit 110. The mixing unit 110 is a unit that takes out a part of the taken washing water and heats it with the heat exchanger 118, and mixes the heated washing water with the unheated cold washing water to make warm water at an appropriate temperature. is there. In the sanitary apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, a heat exchanger 118 of a type in which a small capacity tank is provided and cleaning water in the tank is heated by a heater is used. Of course, other systems that do not use a tank, for example, a heat exchanger such as a system that obtains hot water by rapidly heating the cleaning water when necessary with a heater installed in the pipe can be used.
[0087]
The feed water introduced into the mixing unit 110 passes through the check valve 112, the pressure regulating valve 114, and the electromagnetic valve 116, and then is branched into two, one through the mixing valve 124 and the other through the heat exchanger 118. To the mixing valve 124. The check valve 112 is provided to prevent the cleaning water supplied into the sanitary device 10 from flowing back into the water pipe or the like, and the pressure regulating valve 114 is used to adjust the pressure of the water supply system when the pressure of the water supply is high. In addition, the solenoid valve 116 is provided to take in or stop the washing water into the water supply system. A heater (not shown) and a hot water thermistor 122 for measuring the water temperature in the tank are provided in the tank of the heat exchanger 118, and the water in the tank is always heated to about 60 ° C. Further, a cold water thermistor 120 for measuring the temperature of the washing water is provided in the pipe directly connected from the electromagnetic valve 116 to the mixing valve 124.
[0088]
The mixing valve 124 controls the washing water to have an appropriate temperature by changing the mixing ratio of cold water and hot water using the following method. A rotor (not shown) is provided inside the mixing valve 124. When the rotor is rotated, the passage area of the cold water flowing into the mixing valve 124 and the passage area of the hot water are changed. If the temperature of the hot water and the temperature of the cold water are detected using the hot water thermistor 122 and the cold water thermistor 120, respectively, and the rotation angle of the rotor is set to an appropriate position by the mixing motor 126, the hot water and the cold water are mixed at an appropriate ratio. In this way, it is possible to allow the washing water having an appropriate temperature to flow out from the mixing valve 124. Further, a water discharge thermistor 128 is provided downstream of the mixing valve 124 and feedback-controls the measured temperature of the washing water to the rotation angle of the rotor. The aforementioned DC control unit 700 performs feedback control by receiving the measurement result of the water temperature from the cold water thermistor 122, the hot water thermistor 120, and the water discharge thermistor 128 and controlling the rotation of the mixing motor 126 based on the results.
[0089]
The washing water adjusted to an appropriate temperature by the mixing unit 110 is guided to the flow adjustment unit 140. The flow control unit 140 is a unit that switches the flow rate of the cleaning water between the case of cleaning the buttocks and the case of using the bidet and switching the nozzles for the buttocks cleaning and the nozzles for the bidet cleaning. The flow adjustment unit 140 includes a flow adjustment switching valve 142 and a bypass valve 144. When the toilet user instructs either the buttocks cleaning or the bidet cleaning, the flow control switching valve 142 is operated to switch the flow path of the cleaning water and flow through a predetermined passage of the nozzle unit 100, Wash water is ejected from the bidet cleaning nozzle. The bypass valve 144 functions to bypass the wash water so that the wash water does not spout from the nozzle for a while after the toilet user presses the butt washing or bidet washing start switch. That is, immediately after the cleaning start switch is pressed, the temperature in the mixing unit 110 is not sufficient, and cold water is ejected from the nozzle, so only a short period of time until the temperature of the cleaning water rises to an appropriate temperature. Then, the bypass valve 144 is opened and the washing water is discarded. However, as will be described later, cleaning water to be discarded is also supplied to the nozzle unit 100 and used for nozzle cleaning in the nozzle cleaning chamber.
[0090]
The nozzle unit 100 includes a nozzle body and a nozzle head. The nozzle head is provided with a butt cleaning nozzle 102 and a bidet cleaning nozzle 104. When cleaning is not performed, the nozzle head is stored in a nozzle cleaning chamber 106 in the nozzle body. When the toilet user designates butt washing or bidet washing, first, the bypass valve 144 of the flow control unit 140 is opened, and washing water is jetted into the nozzle washing chamber 106. At this stage, since the nozzle head is still stored in the nozzle cleaning chamber 106, it is possible to clean the nozzle head by ejecting cleaning water into the nozzle cleaning chamber 106.
[0091]
When a certain amount of cleaning water is ejected and the temperature of the cleaning water rises, the bypass valve 144 is closed, and then the nozzle head is extended from the nozzle cleaning chamber 106. When the nozzle head reaches a predetermined position, washing water is ejected from the butt washing nozzle 102 or the bidet washing nozzle 104 to wash the human body part. In this way, if the washing water is jetted from the nozzle after the temperature becomes appropriate, it is possible to always wash the human body part comfortably.
[0092]
(3) Hot air unit:
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of the hot air unit 200 of the sanitary device 10. In addition, since the structure of the room warming unit 400 is also substantially the same, it has collectively shown in FIG. The hot air unit 200 is a unit that blows hot air on the human body portion after washing to dry the sirocco fan 202 for taking in and blowing air and a fan motor for rotating the sirocco fan as shown in the figure. 204, a warm air heater 206 that warms air from the fan, and a thermistor 208 that detects the temperature of the warm air. When the toilet user presses a predetermined switch, which will be described later, the sirocco fan 202 rotates and the warm air heated by the warm air heater 206 blows out to dry the human body part. The temperature detected by the thermistor 208 is transmitted to the DC control unit 700 described above, and the DC control unit 700 controls the hot air heater 206 via the AC control unit 600 so that the temperature of the hot air becomes a preset temperature. I have control.
[0093]
(4) Room warming unit:
The room warming unit 400 is a unit that warms the room temperature of the toilet, has substantially the same configuration as the warm air unit 200, and differs greatly from the warm air unit 200 only in the temperature measurement portion of the thermistor. That is, the room warming unit 400 also includes a sirocco fan that takes in air and blows air, a fan motor that rotates the sirocco fan, a warm air heater that warms the air, and a thermistor 408 that detects the temperature of the hot air. . The thermistor 208 of the warm air unit 200 measures the temperature downstream of the heater, whereas the thermistor 408 of the room heating unit 400 measures the temperature at the air intake port of the sirocco fan upstream of the heater. The temperature detected by the thermistor 408 is also transmitted to the DC control unit 700 described above, and the DC control unit 700 controls the hot air heater so that the room temperature becomes the set temperature.
[0094]
(5) Deodorizing unit:
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of the deodorizing unit 500. The deodorizing unit 500 rotates an ozonizer 502 that generates ozone by applying a high voltage, an ozonizer driver 504 that supplies high voltage to the ozonizer 502, a sirocco fan 506 that sucks odor in the toilet seat, and a sirocco fan 506. The deodorizing motor 508 for causing the odor and the catalyst 510 for decomposing the odor are included. When the toilet user sits on the toilet seat 12, a seating switch 802 (see FIG. 6) provided on the toilet seat detects this, and when the user sits for a predetermined time or longer, the deodorizing unit 500 is automatically activated, and the warm air described above Odor is sucked from the odor intake port provided below the hot air outlet of the unit 200. When the sucked odor and the ozone generated by the ozonizer 502 are sent to the catalyst 510, the catalyst 510 adsorbs the odor and decomposes ozone to generate active oxygen, which is adsorbed on the catalyst by the action of the active oxygen. The generated odor is decomposed. After the odor is decomposed and brominated, it is desorbed from the catalyst and discharged from the exhaust port as odorless exhaust. As the catalyst 510 for deodorizing the odor, for example, a catalyst such as a metal oxide obtained by performing a manganese oxide treatment on a base material mainly composed of titania and silica can be used.
[0095]
(6) Heating toilet seat unit:
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of the heating toilet seat unit 300. The heating toilet seat unit 300 includes a toilet seat heater 302 for heating the toilet seat 12, a toilet seat thermistor 304 that measures the temperature of the toilet seat, and a seating switch 802 that detects that the toilet user is sitting on the toilet seat 12. Yes. The signals of the toilet seat thermistor 304 and the seat switch 802 are transmitted to the above-described DC control unit 700, and the DC control unit 700 controls the temperature of the toilet seat 12 so that the set temperature is reached.
[0096]
(7) Control system:
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a portion related to the control of the sanitary function of the sanitary device 10. The controller unit of the sanitary device 10 is centered on the DC control unit 700, the remote controller 20 operated by the toilet user, the auxiliary operation unit 18 for setting fine control contents of the sanitary device 10, and the nozzle unit 100 and the like described above. It is comprised from the AC control unit 600 which supplies electric power to each unit.
[0097]
The DC control unit 700 is centered on the CPU 702 and includes a ROM 704 that stores various control programs and various data, a RAM 706 that temporarily stores data, a nonvolatile memory 708, a built-in clock 710, a timer 712, and the like. The communication circuit 714 performs data communication with the outside using infrared rays, and the PIO 716 that controls the exchange of data with various peripheral devices such as a thermistor and a contact switch. The components are connected to each other via a bus 718. Data exchange is possible. As the nonvolatile memory 708, a memory called EEPROM such as a flash memory is used. The EEPROM is a memory that can retain written data even in a non-energized state and can rewrite data by electrical operation. Although the sanitary device 10 of this embodiment includes the dedicated built-in clock 710, it is needless to say that the time can be measured by software using the function of the CPU 702. When the sanitary device 10 is turned on, the CPU 702 reads a control program and data from the ROM 704 and starts controlling the sanitary device 10.
[0098]
The remote controller 20 is provided with various buttons such as butt washing, bidet washing, hot air drying, and indoor heating. When the toilet user operates these buttons, infrared rays are emitted from an infrared light emitting element (not shown) built in the remote controller 20, and an operation signal of the remote controller is transmitted to the communication circuit 714 of the DC control unit 700. The CPU 702 of the DC control unit 700 receives a remote control operation signal from the communication circuit 714 and executes various controls.
[0099]
The auxiliary operation unit 18 is provided with various knobs for adjusting the temperature of the washing water ejected from the nozzle unit 100, the temperature of the warm air for drying the washed human body part, the temperature of the toilet seat, the temperature of the room, and the like. (See FIG. 25). The CPU 702 of the DC control unit 700 determines the detailed control contents of the various units based on the settings of the various knobs of the auxiliary operation unit 18.
[0100]
The AC control unit 600 controls the supply of electric power to various units such as the nozzle unit 100 and the hot air unit 200 described above. Similar to the DC control unit 700, the AC control unit 600 is an electric circuit mainly composed of a semiconductor. However, many elements such as a power transistor and a thyristor are used, and it is possible to control relatively high voltage and large current electricity such as 100 volt AC electricity and 24 volt DC electricity. The AC control unit 600 is connected to electrical devices such as the electromagnetic valves, motors, and heaters of the various units described above, such as the bypass valve 144 and the mixing motor 126 of the nozzle unit 100.
[0101]
When the toilet user operates a button provided on the remote controller 20 to instruct to perform various hygiene functions such as buttocks cleaning, bidet cleaning, and hot air drying, an operation signal causes the communication circuit 714 of the DC control unit 700 to be operated. Via the CPU 702. The CPU 702 determines the content of the received operation signal and issues an instruction to the AC control unit 600 in consideration of the setting of the auxiliary operation unit 18 and the like. The AC control unit 600 controls the current supplied to various electric devices such as a solenoid valve and a heater in accordance with an instruction from the DC control unit 700, thereby executing a sanitary function corresponding to the instruction from the toilet user.
[0102]
B. Learning control
The sanitary device 10 of the present embodiment detects the use of the toilet, stores the above-described toilet use information, and calculates the use frequency of the toilet from the stored information. In the present specification, calculating the use frequency of the toilet based on the stored toilet information is also referred to as learning. By deciding the control contents of various hygiene functions based on the preset hygiene function control mode and the calculated toilet usage frequency, energy consumption can be saved without impairing the use of comfortable toilets. Yes. Therefore, in the following, the toilet hygiene function is controlled based on the method of detecting toilet use information in the sanitary device 10 of the present embodiment, the method of learning the detected toilet use information, and the learning result and the set control mode. How to do will be described.
[0103]
(1) Toilet usage information detection method:
If toilet use is detected and the time at that time can be known, toilet use information can be detected. The time when the use of the toilet is detected can be known from the built-in clock 710 of the DC control unit 700. Various methods can be used for detecting the use of the toilet.
[0104]
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing various methods by which the sanitary device 10 of this embodiment detects the use of the toilet. The detection of toilet use information is mainly performed by the DC control unit 700. Various sensors for detecting use of the toilet are connected to the PIO 716 of the DC control unit 700, and signals from the various sensors are transmitted to the CPU 702 via the PIO 716. When the use of the toilet is detected by these sensors, the CPU 702 reads the toilet use time, performs a predetermined process described later, and stores the toilet use information.
[0105]
The sanitary apparatus 10 of the present embodiment is provided with various sensors described below as sensors for detecting use of the toilet (see FIG. 8). Needless to say, the sanitary device 10 may include some of these sensors.
[0106]
The seat switch 802 is mounted on the lower surface of the toilet seat, and when the toilet user sits on the toilet seat and a load is applied, the contact switch is closed. When the toilet is used for men's stool or for girls, the contact of the seating switch 802 is closed, so that the use of the toilet can be detected. Note that instead of the contact switch, various sensors using a phenomenon in which the capacitance or the electric resistance value changes depending on the pressure received may be applied. In addition to the simple mechanism of the seating switch 802, the contact point opens and closes depending on the weight of the toilet user, so there is almost no risk of malfunction and the use of the toilet can be reliably detected.
[0107]
Further, as a sensor for detecting the seating of the toilet user, means for measuring the temperature of the human body may be applied. That is, when the toilet user sits on the toilet seat 12, the temperature of the toilet seat rises due to being warmed by the user's body temperature. Therefore, it is possible to detect the seating of the toilet user based on the temperature change of the toilet seat 12. As a sensor for measuring the toilet seat temperature, for example, a toilet seat thermistor 304 provided for temperature control of a heating toilet seat can be used. Since the normal sanitary device 10 has a heating toilet seat function and a toilet seat thermistor for controlling the temperature of the toilet seat, if a toilet user's seating is detected by such a method, a sensor is newly added. There is no need to increase the cost. Of course, not only the toilet seat heating but also a temperature thermistor used for other purposes may be used.
[0108]
A human body sensor 804 is a sensor that is attached to the toilet body and detects use of the toilet by sensing infrared rays emitted from the human body. In the sanitary device 10 of the present embodiment, a pyroelectric infrared sensor is used as such a human body sensor. When the use of the toilet is detected by the human body sensor 804, it is possible to detect the use of the toilet in a form that does not sit on the toilet as in the case of a boy's urine. The human body sensor 804 may be incorporated in the sanitary device 10 or may be provided separately from the sanitary device 10.
[0109]
In addition, as a human body sensor, you may use a sound wave sensor, an optical sensor, etc. When using the toilet, sound waves and light are emitted toward a position where the human body of the toilet user is supposed to exist, and this is detected by a detection element provided on the course. When the toilet is used, sound waves and light are blocked by the human body, so that it cannot be detected by the detection element, and it can be detected that the toilet is being used. Of course, the use of the toilet may be detected by detecting a sound wave or light reflected from the human body with a detection element.
[0110]
The float switches 806 and 807 are so-called contact switches, and are provided so as to be interlocked with the movement of the float in the tank in which the waste water received by the toilet is stored. When the toilet user cleans the filth, the water level in the tank is lowered, and this is detected by the float switches 806 and 807 linked to the float, thereby detecting the use of the toilet. In addition, since the amount of water required for washing | cleaning filth differs when the toilet is used for stool and when it is used for urine, the water level change in a tank is also different. In the sanitary device 10 of the present embodiment, only the contact of the float switch 806 is used when the toilet is used for urination, and the contact of the float switches 806 and 807 is used when the toilet is used for stool. By doing so, it is possible to identify whether the toilet is used for stool or urine. If the learning is made by distinguishing whether the toilet is used for urination or urination, there is a possibility that the toilet environment will be more finely controlled. In addition, detection of toilet use by the float switch has an advantage that it can be easily attached to a toilet equipped with a tank.
[0111]
The water flow sensor 808 is a sensor that detects the water flow that flows in the toilet pipe. Various known sensors can be used as a sensor for detecting the water flow. In the sanitary device 10 of the present embodiment, a vane type water flow sensor whose vane position changes depending on the flow of water is used, but other sensors using ultrasonic waves, electromagnetic force, or the like may be applied. . When the toilet user uses water such as flowing filth in the toilet bowl, the water flows through the pipe. By detecting this, the use of the toilet can be detected. Since the water flow sensor may be provided anywhere in the toilet pipe, there is an advantage that the degree of freedom in the design or construction of the sanitary device is improved. In addition, you may provide a water flow sensor not only in piping in a toilet bowl but in piping for washing a hand after using a toilet.
[0112]
The washing switches 810 and 811 are contact switches that are linked to an operation lever that is used when washing the filth in the toilet bowl. The toilet user tilts the control lever clockwise after using it for urine, and then tilts counterclockwise after using it for stool, so when the control lever is tilted clockwise, the washing switch 810 is counterclockwise. The contact point of the cleaning switch 811 is closed when it is tilted. Therefore, by detecting the opening / closing of the washing switches 810 and 811, it is possible to obtain information not only about the use of the toilet but also whether it is used for urine or stool.
[0113]
The toilet user can use various sanitary functions of the sanitary device 10 by operating various buttons on the remote controller 20. Since the signal from the remote controller 20 is transmitted to the CPU 702 via the communication circuit 714 in the DC control unit 700 as described above, the use of the toilet can also be detected by detecting this signal. By detecting the operation signal from the remote controller 20 in this way, it is possible to reliably detect the detailed intention of the toilet user, for example, whether to use butt washing or bidet washing. In addition, unlike the detection by a float switch, a water flow sensor, or the like, it is possible to detect the use of the toilet even when the water is shut off.
[0114]
Here, the operation signals detected by the sanitary device 10 are various buttons relating to the sanitary function of the remote controller 20 as described above (for example, a buttocks washing button, a bidet washing button, a hot air drying button, and a washing and drying stoppage Of course, the remote controller 20 may be provided with a button relating to the function of the toilet (for example, toilet flushing, etc.) to detect an operation signal of the button.
[0115]
The sanitary device 10 of the present embodiment can also detect the use of the toilet by detecting the operation of the sanitary device 10 washing the human body part. The cleaning operation of the human body local part is detected as follows, for example. The temperature of the cleaning water for local cleaning of the sanitary device 10 is controlled by the hot water thermistor 122 of the heat exchanger 118 and discharged from the tip of the nozzle unit 100 through the flow control switching valve 142. When the local cleaning is used, cold wash water that has not been heated is heated by the heat exchanger 118 to become hot water, and a temperature change is detected by the hot water thermistor 122. Therefore, the use of the sanitary device can be detected by detecting the temperature change of the hot water thermistor 122. Further, since the flow control switching valve 142 is in the “open” state during the local cleaning, the local cleaning operation of the sanitary device 10 can also be detected by detecting the operation signal of the flow control switching valve 142. Therefore, the use of the toilet can be detected by detecting the temperature change of the hot water thermistor 122, the operation signal of the flow control switching valve 142, or information indicating whether the switching valve is in an open or closed state.
[0116]
In addition, the sanitary device 10 of this embodiment is provided with a temperature sensor (not shown) for detecting the surface temperature of the toilet bowl at a location where the toilet bowl comes into contact with the waste, and detects a temperature change when the toilet receives the waste By doing so, it is possible to detect the use of the toilet. Usually, since the filth is warm, the surface temperature of the toilet bowl receiving the filth increases. Therefore, if this temperature change is detected, use of the toilet can be reliably detected. A known sensor such as a semiconductor type temperature sensor can be applied to such a temperature sensor.
[0117]
The sanitary device 10 of the present embodiment can also detect the use of the toilet by detecting that the toilet lighting has been turned on. Except for a bright time zone, the lighting is always turned on when the toilet is used. Therefore, the use of the toilet can be easily detected by detecting this. In the sanitary device 10 of this embodiment, lighting is detected by using a so-called photo sensor, but the operation of a switch for lighting the toilet light is detected by a contact switch or the like, or flows to the lighting lamp. A method of detecting a current or the like may be applied.
[0118]
(2) Toilet usage information storage method:
When the use of the toilet is detected by any of the above-described methods, the sanitary device 10 of the present embodiment temporarily stores the toilet use information together with information related to the use time of the toilet, and then stores the predetermined information from the stored toilet use information. The frequency of toilet use is calculated by the method. In addition, the calculation of the toilet usage frequency is actually the frequency of toilet usage in each past time zone calculated from the stored toilet usage information. Calculating the toilet use frequency in each past time zone is also to predict the toilet use frequency in each future time zone at the same time. For this reason, calculating the toilet use frequency in this specification is also expressed as predicting the toilet use frequency. Below, the accumulation | storage method of toilet usage information is demonstrated first, and the prediction method of a toilet usage frequency is demonstrated after that.
[0119]
As shown in FIG. 9, the sanitary device 10 of this embodiment divides 24 hours a day into 32 blocks in 45 minute increments, and stores toilet use information in the form of the number of times the toilet is used in each block. . By storing not the time when the toilet is used but the number of times the toilet is used in each block, there is an advantage that the memory required for storage is saved and the entire learning process is simplified. Of course, the use time of the toilet may be stored. If it does so, it will become possible to predict the use frequency of a toilet finely for every hour. This will be described later.
[0120]
One day may be divided into blocks shorter than 45 minutes (for example, 20 minutes), and the number of times the toilet is used in each block may be stored. As the time width of each block becomes finer, the memory required for storing toilet use information increases accordingly, but it becomes possible to predict the toilet use frequency more finely. Conversely, the number of times the toilet is used in a block longer than 45 minutes (for example, 1 hour) may be stored.
[0121]
The sanitary device 10 according to the present embodiment accumulates toilet use information using a storage area called “temporary registration data frame” and a storage area called “learning data frame”. FIG. 10A is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a “temporary registration data frame”. As described above, the sanitary device 10 according to the present embodiment handles one day divided into 32 blocks of 45 minutes, and correspondingly, 32 blocks are provided in the temporary registration data frame. ing. In other words, each block of the temporary registration data frame corresponds to 45 minutes of one day, and the entire temporary registration data frame corresponds to 24 hours per day. In the “temporary registration data frame”, an area is actually secured on the RAM 706 in the DC control unit 700, and data is stored in the area. As shown in the figure, serial numbers from 1 to 32 are assigned to the blocks of the “temporary registration data frame”.
[0122]
FIG. 10B is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a “learning data frame”. As shown in the figure, the “learning data frame” is composed of blocks for storing data for eight days, with 32 blocks for one day, as in the “temporary registration data frame”. In the sanitary device 10 of the present embodiment, data for 8 days is stored in the “learning data frame”, but it may be possible to store 9 days or more, or conversely, only 7 days or less. . If the number of days that can be stored is large, it will be possible to predict the use of the toilet in a detailed manner as will be described later, and if the number of days that can be stored is small, the memory required for storage can be saved, and the toilet user can be saved. It is possible to quickly adapt the stored data of toilet use information to changes in daily life patterns. In the “learning data frame”, an area is actually secured in the nonvolatile memory 708 in the DC control unit 700, and data is stored in the area.
[0123]
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing in which the sanitary device 10 of this embodiment accumulates toilet use information. The toilet use information accumulation routine shown in FIG. 11 uses the various functions of the CPU 702 after the sanitary apparatus 10 is turned on and a predetermined program is loaded on the CPU 702 of the DC control unit 700, and the RAM 706 and the non-volatile This is executed with reference to the memory 708. When the power is turned on and the sanitary device 10 is in operation, the routine of FIG. 11 is constantly in operation, and toilet usage information is accumulated. Hereinafter, the process in which the sanitary apparatus 10 stores toilet use information will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
[0124]
When the toilet use information accumulation routine is started, the CPU 702 determines whether or not data is stored in the learning data frame (step S100). This determination is performed by the CPU 702 referring to a predetermined address on the memory and determining whether or not a flag is set in a predetermined bit. Here, the predetermined address referred to by the CPU 702 is an address displaying various control information of the sanitary device 10 such as failure information, and the sanitary device 10 is written with predetermined information at the time of shipment. Therefore, when power is first applied to the sanitary device 10, the CPU 702 refers to this address to detect the absence of learning data. As will be described later, when the toilet user resets the learning data frame, a flag is set to a predetermined bit of a predetermined address.
[0125]
Although details will be described later, in the sanitary device 10 of the present embodiment, in order to prevent the toilet use information stored for many days from being lost due to a power failure, these are stored in a nonvolatile memory. Therefore, when the toilet use information accumulation routine is started, it is first determined whether or not data is stored in the non-volatile memory, so that it is possible to prevent erasing necessary data accumulated in the learning data frame. is there.
[0126]
If no data exists in the learning data frame, the CPU 702 initializes the data in the learning data frame (step S102). As described with reference to FIG. 10, the learning data frame is an area on the non-volatile memory 708 for storing data of 8 blocks, that is, 256 blocks. In each block of the learning data frame, the number of times of use of the toilet detected in the corresponding 45 minutes is stored. In the process of step S102, first, a value “0” is written in all 256 blocks.
[0127]
When data exists in the learning data frame, or after completing the initialization of the learning data frame, the CPU 702 initializes the temporary registration data frame (step S104). As described above with reference to FIG. 10, the temporary registration data frame is an area on the RAM 706 that stores data for one day, that is, 32 blocks. In the process of step S104, the value “0” is written in all 32 blocks. Thus, when initialization of the learning data frame and the temporary registration data frame is completed, accumulation of toilet use information is started.
[0128]
The toilet use information accumulation routine stores toilet use information in the temporary registration data frame every time the use of the toilet is detected, stores the toilet use information for one day, and registers them in the learning data frame collectively. Accordingly, it is determined whether or not 24 hours have elapsed since the start of storing data in the temporarily registered data frame (step S106). In FIG. 11, since it is necessary to express in the flowchart, it is expressed as if the CPU 702 always determines whether or not 24 hours have passed, but actually an interrupt operation by a timer function is used. In other words, the CPU 702 instructs the timer 712 to generate an interrupt every 24 hours, and then proceeds with the process assuming that 24 hours have not elapsed, and each time the timer 712 generates an interrupt, the step is performed. Processes after S116 (details will be described later) are performed.
[0129]
Next, the CPU 702 determines whether or not the use of the toilet is detected (step S108). When the use of the toilet is detected, the use time of the toilet is acquired from the built-in clock 710 (step S110). Here, since it is necessary to express in the flowchart, it is expressed as if the CPU 702 constantly monitors whether or not the use of the toilet is detected. However, every time the use of the toilet is actually detected. An interrupt is generated, and the CPU 702 obtains the toilet use time from the built-in clock 710 each time an interrupt occurs. This eliminates the need for the CPU 702 to constantly monitor whether or not the use of the toilet is detected, and allows other useful processing to be performed.
[0130]
When the use time of the toilet is acquired from the built-in clock 710 (step S110), the number of blocks in the provisional registration data frame corresponding to the acquired time is calculated (step S112), and the value of the toilet use count of the corresponding block is calculated. Is increased by one (step S114). When the value of the toilet use count is increased by 1, the process returns to step S106 again. That is, the CPU 702 executes a standby state or other processing until an interruption due to detection of toilet use occurs, and acquires the toilet use time from the built-in clock 710 each time the use of the toilet is detected (step S110). ), The block position is calculated (step S112), and the number of times the toilet of the corresponding block is used is added (step S114). When 24 hours elapses while repeating such processing, the timer 712 generates an interrupt.
[0131]
When 24 hours have elapsed since the start of data accumulation in the temporary registration data frame, the toilet usage information for one day accumulated in the temporary registration data frame is registered in the learning data frame. As mentioned in the description of FIG. 10, the sanitary device 10 of the present embodiment can store data for 8 days as a learning data frame, and each data is stored data of yesterday and stored data of 2 days ago. , 3 days ago accumulated data, and 8 days ago accumulated data are stored. When registering the accumulated data of the temporary registration data frame in the learning data frame, in the process of step S114, the accumulated data of the learning data frame is not overwritten with the accumulated data of yesterday with the accumulated data of the temporary registration data frame. Shift by one day. At this time, the accumulated data itself eight days ago is discarded because the storage area is not secured, but before that, it is accumulated in a dedicated data frame together with past data as follows. That is, the data of 8 days ago and the data of the dedicated data frame are averaged for each time zone, and the data of the dedicated data frame is updated with the average value. Thus, if data for a predetermined period (for example, for 30 days) is accumulated, the past average toilet use status is accumulated in the dedicated data frame. Although details will be described later, even when there is a time zone in which stored data does not exist due to a power failure or the like, it can be used as substitute data during a power failure time.
[0132]
After shifting the data in the learning data frame by one day in this way (step S116), the toilet usage information for one day accumulated in the temporary registration data frame is written (step S118). When the above processing is completed, toilet usage information for one day is registered in the learning data frame. The CPU 702 returns to step S104 again and starts accumulating new toilet usage information for one day.
[0133]
As described with reference to FIG. 8, the sanitary device 10 of the present embodiment can detect the use of the toilet by various methods. In the above-described toilet use information accumulation routine, the use of the toilet is detected by any method, and the toilet use information is accumulated in the temporary registration data frame. However, as described below, the use of the toilet may be detected by simultaneously determining signals from various sensors that detect the use of the toilet. That is, for example, when the use of the toilet is detected by the water flow sensor 808, the use of the toilet should be detected by the human body sensor 802 at the same time. If the human body sensor 802 detects the use of the toilet but the seating switch 802 does not detect the use of the toilet, it is not used for men's urine or the toilet. It is considered that a false detection has occurred. Thus, by taking into account signals from various sensors that detect toilet use, it is possible not only to avoid erroneous detection of toilet use, but also to obtain more information.
[0134]
FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a method of obtaining more information while avoiding false detection by simultaneously determining signals from a plurality of sensors that detect use of the toilet. FIG. 12 shows an example in which the use of a toilet is detected by simultaneously determining signals from three types of sensors, a seating switch 802, a water flow sensor 808, and a stool washing switch 810. Of course, the signals are not limited to these three types of sensors, and signals from more sensors may be determined simultaneously. For convenience of explanation, it is assumed here that the water flow sensor 808 is attached not to the toilet flushing pipe but to the hand washing pipe.
[0135]
For example, in the case of the combination 1 in FIG. 12, both the seating switch 802, the water flow sensor 808, and the stool washing switch 810 are “ON”. In other words, since the toilet user is sitting on the toilet seat, washing his hands and using water to wash the toilet seat, it can be determined that the toilet is definitely used. Therefore, in the case of the combination 1, the value “1” indicating that the toilet is used reliably is set as the determination value. In the case of the combination 2, the outputs of the seat switch 802 and the water flow sensor 808 are “ON”, but the output of the cleaning switch 810 is “OFF”. That is, it corresponds to a state where the user sits on the toilet bowl but does not wash the toilet seat. Such a state may have been used for girls' urine or maintenance of the toilet, and it cannot be determined that the toilet is being used reliably. Therefore, in the case of the combination 2, the value “0.5” indicating that the certainty of toilet use is slightly low is used as the judgment value. In the case of the combination 6, the water flow sensor 808 is “ON”, but the seating switch 802 and the washing switch 810 remain “OFF”. And the judgment value is set to “0”. In the case of the combination 8, since none of the sensors detects the use of the toilet, the judgment value is of course “0”.
[0136]
In the above-described toilet use information accumulation routine described with reference to FIG. 11, when the use of a toilet is detected, the number of times the toilet is used in the corresponding block is increased by one (step S112). If it is also possible to determine the likelihood of using the toilet (the “judgment value” in FIG. 12), the judgment value is added to the corresponding block instead of the number of times the toilet is used. This makes it possible to detect toilet use with high accuracy. In the example of FIG. 12, as a value indicating the certainty of using the toilet, a value “1” indicating that the toilet is used almost certainly, a value “0.5” indicating that a little doubt remains, almost certainly. Although the description has been made assuming that the value of “0” indicating that it is not used is taken in three stages, it is needless to say that the value of more stages may be taken.
[0137]
Also, when judging the output from multiple sensors at the same time, whether the toilet was used for stool or for girls (hereinafter, the two are collectively referred to as use for general use), or used for men's urine It is also possible to make a judgment by distinguishing whether or not. FIG. 13 shows an example in which the use for large use and the use for urine are distinguished and determined. According to the combination of outputs from the seating switch 802, the water flow sensor 808, and the washing switch 810, whether the toilet is used for general use or urine is output together with a judgment value indicating the likelihood of use. ing. For example, in the case of the combination 1, since the output of any of the sensors is “ON”, it can be determined that the toilet has been used for certain purposes. Therefore, the large judgment value is “1” and the urine judgment value is “0”. In the case of the combination 3, although the output of the seating switch 802 is “ON”, the output of the water flow sensor 808 and the output of the washing switch 810 are “OFF”. One possibility is that it was used for urination for girls, but it is difficult to judge that the toilet was used reliably, so the judgment value for heavy use was set to “0.5” and the judgment for urination was used. The value is “0”. In this way, when the likelihood of use is detected at the same time as the use of the toilet for each of the toilet and urine, toilet use information is accumulated by distinguishing between the use and the urine. Specifically, each block constituting the above-described “temporary registration data frame” and “learning data frame” (see FIG. 10) includes two pieces of information, that is, toilet use information for large use and toilet use information for urine. Remember. As an example, FIG. 14 conceptually shows a state in which two toilet use information for large and urine are stored in the learning data frame. The upper data stored in each block in the figure is an example of toilet use information for large use, and the lower data is an example of toilet use information for urination. Further, in the toilet use information accumulation routine (see FIG. 11), during the process of step S112, the determination value may be added to the corresponding block by distinguishing between the large and small urinals. In this way, if toilet usage information is accumulated by distinguishing between large-use and urinal, the toilet environment can be finely controlled.
[0138]
(3) Toilet use frequency calculation (prediction) method:
The sanitary device 10 according to the present embodiment predicts the use frequency of the toilet based on the toilet use information accumulated using the above-described method. Toilet use frequency is predicted by performing predetermined calculations (to be described later) on toilet use information data accumulated in the learning data frame. The predicted result is stored in an area called “control data frame”, and the DC control unit 700 performs various controls of the toilet environment based on the predicted result stored in the “control data frame” and the selected control mode. .
[0139]
FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a “control data frame” in the present embodiment. The “control data frame” divides 24 hours a day into 32 blocks in 45-minute increments, and the prediction result of toilet use frequency can be stored in each block. Similar to the temporary registration data frame, each block is assigned a serial number from 1 to 32. Actually, an area is secured on the RAM 706 in the DC control unit 700, and data is stored in the area. In FIG. 15, one day is divided into 32 blocks in 45 minute increments. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it may be divided into more blocks or less blocks. The same is true for the temporary registration data frame and the learning data frame described above.
[0140]
The prediction data of the first block of the control data frame (hereinafter, the nth block is referred to as block n) is the data for 8 days stored in block 1 of the learning data frame and the 8 data stored in block 2. Calculated based on the daily data. Similarly, the prediction data of block 2 in the control data frame is obtained based on the data for 8 days in block 2 in the learning data frame and the data for 8 days in block 3. The data in block 32 of the control data frame is obtained based on the data in block 32 and the data in block 1 in the learning data frame. In FIG. 15, such a relationship between the control data frame and the learning data frame is expressed by shifting the position of the control data frame by a half of the block with respect to the learning data frame. That is, block 1 of the control data frame corresponds to data in two columns of blocks 1 and 2 of the learning data frame, and block 2 of the control data frame is data of blocks 2 and 3 of the learning data frame. It is a thing corresponding to.
[0141]
Thus, since one block of the control data frame is obtained using the data of the two rows of blocks in the learning data frame, it is possible to absorb a slight shift in toilet usage time that may occur. That is, even though the toilet user uses the toilet at about the same time every day, it does not use it at the exact same time. When the toilet usage time is exactly the boundary between two blocks, the toilet usage information registered in the learning data frame may be different data even though the toilet is used at approximately the same time. obtain. Assuming such a case, the toilet use frequency is predicted by referring to the values of the blocks in the two columns of the learning data frame.
[0142]
In addition to predicting the toilet use frequency by referring to the values in the two rows of blocks, for example, when the use of the toilet is frequently detected near the block boundary, the position of the block boundary is shifted. You may make it. Even in this way, it becomes possible to absorb the difference in the toilet usage time.
[0143]
Hereinafter, how the CPU 702 in the DC control unit 700 predicts the toilet use frequency based on the toilet use information accumulated in the learning data frame and writes the prediction result in the corresponding block of the control data frame will be described. FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing an enlargement of a portion of the control data frame corresponding to a portion of the learning data frame. The upper side of the figure shows a learning data frame, and the lower side shows a control data frame. In the learning data frame, for example, X (4, 1) indicates the value of the toilet use information of block 4 registered one day ago. In the control data frame, for example, F (4) indicates the predicted value of the toilet use frequency written in block 4 of the control data frame.
[0144]
FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing in which the CPU 702 in the DC control unit 700 predicts the toilet use frequency. This routine is subsequently executed when the data stored in the temporary registration data frame is registered in the learning data frame in the toilet use information storage routine (see FIG. 11). That is, when an interrupt is generated every 24 hours by the timer, the CPU 702 registers the data accumulated in the temporary registration data frame in the learning data frame, and then performs the process shown in FIG. 17 to predict the toilet usage frequency. . Of course, the built-in clock 710 may be interrupted by a function every day at a predetermined time.
[0145]
When the toilet use frequency prediction routine is started, first, the control number n is initialized (step S200). As described above, the data of the nth block of the control data frame is obtained based on the data accumulated in the nth and n + 1th blocks of the learning data frame. In order to perform processing for all the blocks, 0 is substituted for the control number n in step S200.
[0146]
After the control number n is initialized, the value of the control number n is incremented by 1 in order to start the process for the first block of the control data frame (step S202). In the subsequent step S204, an accumulated value Sm1 (1) is calculated from the data for 8 days accumulated in the blocks 1 and 2 of the learning data frame using the following equation (1).
Sm1 (n) = ΣX (n, m) + ΣX (n + 1, m) (1)
Here, the control number n is 1. m is an integer from 1 to 8. That is, the formula (1) is obtained by adding 8 days of data ΣX (1, m) accumulated in the block 1 of the learning data frame and 8 days of data ΣX (2, m) accumulated in the block 2. It is a combined formula. The accumulated value Sm1 (1) thus obtained is a value corresponding to the number of times the toilet has been used in the past 8 days in the time zone corresponding to block 1 and the time zone corresponding to block 2.
[0147]
When the cumulative value Sm1 (1) is obtained, it is compared with two thresholds th1 and th2 (th1 <th2), so that there are three cases of toilet use frequency high, during use frequency, and low use frequency Divide. First, the cumulative value Sm1 (1) is compared with th1 (step S206), and if the cumulative value Sm1 (1) is smaller than th1, a value “0” indicating that the toilet use frequency is low is substituted for F (1). (Step S214). When the cumulative value Sm1 (1) is greater than th1, the cumulative value Sm1 (1) is compared with th2 (step S208). When the cumulative value Sm1 (1) is greater than th2, the value indicates that the toilet use frequency is high. “2” is substituted into F (1) (step S210). When the accumulated value Sm1 (1) is larger than th1 and smaller than th2, a value “1” indicating that the usage frequency is medium is substituted for F (1) (step S212).
[0148]
As is clear from the above description, the determination result of the toilet use frequency varies depending on the value selected as the threshold value. That is, it is possible to control the toilet environment more comfortably by improving the threshold selection method. A method for selecting a threshold in this embodiment will be described in detail later.
[0149]
When the toilet use frequency of block 1 of the control data frame is determined in this way, it is determined whether it has been determined for all blocks (step S216). Here, since the control data frame is composed of 32 blocks, unprocessed blocks remain until the control number n reaches 32. If an unprocessed block remains, the process returns to step S202 to perform a series of processes for the next block.
[0150]
When the toilet use frequency is determined for all the blocks, the toilet use frequency prediction routine is ended, and the CPU 702 starts accumulating toilet use information again (see FIG. 11).
[0151]
In the above description, the cumulative value Sm1 (n) is calculated using one calculation formula, but a plurality of calculation formulas may be used. When a plurality of calculation formulas are used, it is possible to discriminate the usage frequency in detail. Hereinafter, a method for determining the toilet use frequency using a plurality of calculation formulas will be described.
[0152]
FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing for determining the toilet use frequency using two calculation formulas as an example.
[0153]
When the toilet use frequency prediction routine is started, the control number n is first initialized (step S230), and then the value of the control number n is incremented by 1 and the process of block 1 is started (step S232). Subsequently, the cumulative value Sm1 (n) is calculated from the data in the learning data frame using the above-described equation (1) (step S234). The accumulated value Sm1 (n) obtained by the equation (1) is a value corresponding to the number of times of use of the toilet accumulated in two blocks of the learning data frame.
[0154]
When the cumulative value Sm1 (n) is calculated by the equation (1), the cumulative value Sm2 (n) is then calculated using the following equation (2) (step S236).

That is, the cumulative value Sm1 (n) obtained by the equation (1) is a value obtained by accumulating the values of the blocks in the two preceding and following columns (see FIG. 16), but the accumulated value Sm2 (n) obtained by the equation (2) is Furthermore, the value of the block of a total of 4 rows | lines which added the outer block was added. Therefore, the relationship of Sm1 (n) ≦ Sm2 (n) always holds.
[0155]
When the cumulative values Sm1 (n) and Sm2 (n) are obtained, the larger cumulative value Sm2 (n) is compared with the threshold th1 (step S238), and the cumulative value Sm2 (n) is smaller than the threshold th1. In this case, a value “0” indicating that the toilet use frequency is low is substituted for F (n) (step S240). Here, the threshold value is described as being the same as the value described in FIG. 17, but a newly set value may be used, and th1 and th2 may be the same value.
[0156]
When the cumulative value Sm2 (n) is larger than the threshold value th1, this time, the smaller cumulative value Sm1 (n) is compared with the threshold value th2 (step S242), and when the cumulative value Sm1 (n) is larger than th2, A value “2” indicating that the toilet use frequency is high is assigned to F (1) (step S244). Otherwise, it is determined that the toilet usage frequency is moderate, and a value “1” indicating that the usage frequency is moderate is substituted into F (1) (step S246).
[0157]
When the toilet use frequency of block n in the control data frame is thus determined, it is determined whether all blocks have been determined (step S248). If there are unprocessed blocks, the process returns to step S232, and the next block is determined. A series of subsequent processing is performed, and when the processing of all the blocks is finished, the toilet use frequency prediction routine is finished.
[0158]
Thus, when the toilet use frequency is predicted using the two types of values, that is, the value obtained by accumulating the data of the four rows of blocks and the value obtained by accumulating the data of the blocks of the two rows, the following advantages are obtained. is there. First, since the accumulated values of the blocks for four columns are used, it is possible to make a stable prediction that is not easily affected by the difference in toilet usage time. On the other hand, since the cumulative value of the blocks for two columns is used, it is possible to make an appropriate prediction even when there is a time zone where the toilet is used in a short time.
[0159]
In the above description, equation (2) accumulates data of four columns of blocks. However, the number of columns of accumulated blocks is not limited to four, and for example, data of three columns of blocks is accumulated, or five columns. The data of these blocks may be accumulated.
[0160]
Further, in the calculation according to the formula (1) or the formula (2), the data of each block in the learning data frame is accumulated with the same weight, but the data for each block can be accumulated with a different weight. For example, the following equation (3) may be used instead of the above equation (1), or the following equation (4) may be used instead of the above equation (2).

Here, k and k ′ are weighting factors, which are larger than one. As described above, the value (F (n)) of the block n in the control data frame is the value (X (n, m)) of the learning data frame n and the value (X (n + 1, m) of the block (n + 1). )) Is determined based on the accumulated value. X (n, m) is data delayed by half a block with respect to F (n), and X (n + 1, m) is data preceding by half a block. Therefore, for example, if the value of F (n) is determined using (Equation 3), it is determined with a specific gravity on the data that precedes in time, and the control is always performed earlier and faster, which is a preferable result. Is obtained.
[0161]
Similarly, if the value of F (n) is determined using (Equation 4), it will be determined with specific gravity on the data of blocks that are temporally adjacent, and can be determined appropriately.
[0162]
As explained above, it is possible to control the toilet environment more comfortably by calculating with different weights for each block of the learning data frame, but the weights differ depending on how many days ago the data was registered. A favorable effect can also be obtained by attaching.
[0163]
If the case described using the flowchart of FIG. 18 is taken as an example, the following equations (5) and (6) may be used instead of equations (3) and (4).

Here, the control number m is an integer of 1 to 8, and is used for identifying how many days ago the data is stored. α (m) is a weighting factor.
[0164]
FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing the idea of setting the value of the weighting factor α (m). In FIG.
α (m) = α1 (m) + α2 (m)
The weighting coefficient α (m) is obtained by the following formula, and α1 (m) and α2 (m) have the following meanings, respectively.
[0165]
For example, life patterns may suddenly change, such as when the school enters summer vacation or the commute changes. In order to quickly respond to such sudden changes in lifestyle patterns and appropriately predict toilet usage frequency, it is appropriate to evaluate recent usage information with light weight and old usage information with light weight. It is. α1 (m) is a weighting factor that takes this into consideration, and as shown in FIG. 19, for example, the weight of recent accumulated data is set large and the weight of old data is set small.
[0166]
Further, as it is considered that the lifestyle patterns are different on weekdays and holidays, it is predicted that the lifestyle patterns usually tend to repeat the same pattern with a period of one week. α2 (m) is a weighting factor that takes this into consideration, and as shown in an example in FIG. 19, the weight of the accumulated data seven days ago is set large.
[0167]
Considering the above, the weighting coefficient α (m) is set to a value obtained by adding α1 (m) and α2 (m). In this way, it is possible to quickly respond to changes in lifestyle habits, and appropriately predict the frequency of use of the toilet in response to periodic changes that appear in normal life patterns. In the above example, the weighting factor α is described as the sum of two values α1 and α2, but is not limited to this. That is, the sum of three or more types of weighting factors may be used, or a single weighting factor may be used.
[0168]
(4) Threshold setting method:
In the above description, the thresholds th1 and th2 are set in advance. However, as described above, it is possible to more appropriately predict the toilet usage frequency by improving the method of setting the thresholds. . In this embodiment, it is possible to set threshold values using various methods, and each threshold setting method will be described below.
[0169]
The first method for setting the threshold value is a method for setting the threshold value in accordance with the number of times the toilet is used per day. Among toilet users, there may be toilet users who rarely use toilets, or toilet users who frequently use toilets. For example, even if the number of toilets used in a certain period of time is the same, it corresponds to a period of high use of the toilet for a small family, but corresponds to a period of low use for a large number of households. Such a case may occur. Therefore, it is desirable to change the setting of the threshold according to the total number of toilets used per day and level the toilet usage frequency set in the control data frame.
[0170]
Specifically, the threshold setting is changed as follows. First, the average number of toilet use per day is obtained from the toilet use information for 8 days accumulated in the learning data frame. Next, the threshold value is corrected while referring to the table shown in FIG. For example, a household with an average number of toilet use of 5 or less is considered to be a household that rarely uses a toilet, so a value obtained by subtracting 2 from the current threshold value is set as a new threshold value. This makes it possible to reliably predict the use even when the toilet is rarely used. Moreover, since the household whose toilet use frequency is 12 to 15 times is considered to be a household that uses the toilet relatively frequently, a value obtained by adding 1 to the current threshold value is set as a new threshold value. Thus, if the threshold value is corrected according to the average number of times the toilet is used, prediction according to the toilet usage pattern for each home can be made.
[0171]
The second method for setting the threshold value is a method for setting each threshold value so that the ratio of the toilet use frequency becomes a predetermined ratio. In the first method described above, the threshold value is uniformly corrected. For example, in the case where two threshold values th1 and th2 are set, it has been described that the two threshold values are corrected simultaneously. However, if it changes for every threshold value so that it may demonstrate below, it will become possible to perform the use prediction of a toilet more appropriately according to the toilet use condition for every household. An example of the second method for setting the threshold will be described with reference to FIGS. 21 and 22.
[0172]
FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram showing an enlargement of a part of the control data frame in which the toilet use frequency is written. On the right side of the figure, the number of blocks predicted to have high toilet use frequency and the number of blocks predicted to have low toilet use frequency are also shown. Here, the toilet use frequency is calculated using set threshold values th1 and th2. FIG. 21 shows three cases as an example. Case 1 is a case where the toilet use frequency is predicted to be high in most time zones, and there are almost no time zones where the use frequency is predicted to be low. In other words, since the control data frame is composed of 32 blocks here, the toilet usage frequency low (F (n) = 0) block is less than 10% of the total, and the usage frequency is high (F The block (n) = 2) occupies more than two-thirds of the whole. In such a case, by increasing both the threshold th1 for determining whether the usage frequency is low or medium and the threshold th2 for determining whether the usage frequency is medium or large, a more appropriate toilet Improved usage frequency distribution. That is, increasing the value of the threshold th1 increases the proportion of low toilet use frequency, and increasing the value of the threshold th2 decreases the proportion of high use frequency.
[0173]
Case 2 is a case where the proportion of toilet use frequency is predicted to be too small. In other words, although it is predicted that the toilet use frequency is low in almost two-thirds of the entire time zone, the ratio that the use frequency is high is not particularly high. In such a case, by reducing only the value of the threshold value th1, it is possible to bring the ratio of each usage frequency closer to a reasonable value.
[0174]
Case 3 is a case where the ratio of toilet use frequency is small and large, and as a result, the ratio of use frequency is low. In such a case, the ratio of each use frequency can be improved to an appropriate value by decreasing the threshold th1 and increasing the threshold th2.
[0175]
FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing for correcting the threshold based on the concept described in FIG. Hereinafter, it demonstrates according to a flowchart. Initially, the toilet use frequency is predicted for each of the 32 blocks constituting the control data frame using the set thresholds th1 and th2 (step S300). Any of the above-described methods can be applied to predict the toilet usage frequency.
[0176]
Next, the number N1 of blocks predicted to have low toilet use frequency is counted (step S302), and N1 is compared with a preset reference value Cr1u (step S304). That is, it is determined whether or not the number of blocks predicted to be infrequently used is too large. When N1 is larger than the reference value Cr1u, it is determined that there are too many blocks that are used infrequently, and a value obtained by reducing the threshold th1 by the predetermined value dth is set as a new threshold th1 (step S306).
[0177]
If N1 is smaller than the reference value Cr1u, this time, the reference value Cr1L set in advance is compared with N1 (step S308). That is, it is determined whether the number of blocks predicted to be infrequently used is too small. If N1 is smaller than the reference value Cr1L, it is determined that there are too few blocks that are used infrequently, and a value obtained by increasing the threshold th1 by the predetermined value dth is set as a new threshold th1 (step S310). When N1 is larger than the reference value Cr1L, it can be determined that the value of the threshold th1 is an appropriate threshold. If it is determined that the threshold value th1 is appropriate, a flag indicating that th1 is OK is set in a register in a computer (CPU 702 in the DC control unit 700 in this embodiment) that performs the threshold value changing process (step S1). S312).
[0178]
The above processing is also performed on the block predicted to have a high toilet use frequency (step S314 to step S324), and it is checked whether or not the threshold values th1 and th2 are determined to be appropriate (step S326). If either threshold value is not yet an appropriate value, the process returns to step S300 and the series of subsequent processes is repeated. By repeating such processing, both threshold values are finally corrected to appropriate values, and the threshold setting processing is terminated. In FIG. 22, in order to avoid complicated description, it has been described that the process of step S300 and subsequent steps is repeated when one of the threshold values is not yet an appropriate value. Of course, if the value is corrected, the corresponding process may be skipped.
[0179]
In the learning of the toilet use information described above, it has been explained that one day is divided into 32 blocks every 45 minutes and the number of times the toilet is used in each block is stored. Moreover, in calculating the toilet use frequency, it was explained that the use frequency of the toilet is predicted for each block. However, as mentioned before, it is also possible to store the time when the use of the toilet is detected as the toilet use information, and calculate the toilet use frequency every moment based on such use information. Moreover, although the time when the toilet was used is memorize | stored, it is also possible to calculate a toilet use frequency for every time slot | zone. In the following, a method for storing the toilet use time and calculating the toilet use frequency based on the toilet use information will be described.
[0180]
FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram conceptually illustrating an example of a method for storing a time when a toilet is used as toilet use information and predicting a toilet use frequency every moment. In FIG. 23, in order to simplify the description, it is assumed that the stored toilet use information is for three days. FIG. 23A schematically shows a state in which the toilet use time is stored in the learning data frame. The toilet is in use at the time indicated by ▽ in the figure. Since the toilet is considered to be used at almost the same time every day, it can be considered that there is a high possibility that the toilet will be used again before and after the time when the use of the toilet was detected in the past. Moreover, it can be considered that the possibility that the toilet will be used again decreases as the distance from the time when the toilet is used increases. In other words, the distribution weight coefficient is considered such that the weight decreases as the time goes away, centering on the time when the toilet is used, and it is highly likely that the toilet will be used again at times when the coefficient value increases. be able to.
[0181]
FIG. 23B schematically shows how weighting factors are distributed for each of the toilet use times stored in FIG. 23A based on such a concept. If such weighting factors are accumulated for all toilet use information stored in the learning data frame, the toilet use frequency from moment to moment can be calculated as shown in FIG.
[0182]
In the above description, the toilet use frequency for one day is calculated at a time considering the distribution of weighting factors for all stored toilet use information, but the toilet use frequency is calculated as shown in FIG. Can be calculated from time to time. For example, it is assumed that the toilet use frequency at time Δ in FIG. Find the time difference between the time at which the toilet use frequency is calculated (calculation time) and each toilet use time stored in the learning data frame, and accumulate the value of the inverse of this time difference for all toilet use times. The accumulated value is used as the toilet use frequency at the calculation time. Of course, the accumulated value is not limited to the reciprocal of the time difference, and various values that allow the toilet use frequency to be appropriately calculated, such as using the reciprocal of the square of the time difference, may be accumulated.
[0183]
FIG. 23 illustrates an example of a method for storing the time at which the toilet is used and calculating the toilet usage frequency from time to time based on the stored time. However, the toilet usage at each time zone is based on the toilet usage time. It is also possible to calculate the frequency. An example of such a method will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 24A schematically shows a state in which the toilet use time is stored in the learning data frame. Similarly to FIG. 23, in order to avoid complication of the drawing, toilet usage information for three days is stored in the learning data frame. For each of the stored toilet use times, a weighting factor is applied in the same manner as in Fig. 23 (b) to calculate the toilet use frequency from moment to moment (see Fig. 24B). The distribution can be added for each time zone, and the frequency of toilet use in each time zone can be obtained.
[0184]
Alternatively, the number of toilet use stored in the learning data frame may be accumulated for each time period to obtain the toilet use frequency in each time period. Also, instead of accumulating only the number of toilets used within the time period for which the frequency of use is to be obtained, as shown in FIG. You may make it accumulate. If it carries out like this, it will become possible to absorb the fluctuation | variation of a toilet use time and to calculate a toilet use frequency stably.
[0185]
C. Contents of toilet environment control based on learning results
The sanitary device 10 according to the present embodiment controls the toilet environment based on the toilet use situation learned by the above-described method and the setting contents of the auxiliary operation unit 18. In the sanitary device 10 of the present embodiment, by changing the control mode in which the operator of the auxiliary operation unit 18 is set, further saving of energy consumption can be achieved while providing a comfortable toilet environment for the toilet user. It is possible to plan. Hereinafter, how the control mode is set in the auxiliary operation unit 18 and how the sanitary device 10 of the present embodiment controls the toilet environment will be described.
[0186]
(1) First aspect:
  Of the first to fourth aspects described below, the second to fourth aspects correspond to the contents of the present invention. First, the first aspect as a comparative example will be described.Fig.25 (a) is explanatory drawing which showed the auxiliary | assistant operation part 18 of the sanitary device 10 of a 1st aspect. As shown in the figure, the auxiliary operation unit 18 includes a power switch 900, an adjustment knob 902 for adjusting the temperature of the heating toilet seat, an adjustment knob 904 for adjusting the temperature of the washing water for washing the human body local part, and the local part after washing. An adjustment knob 906 for adjusting the temperature of the hot air to be dried, an adjustment knob 908 for adjusting the heating temperature in the toilet room, a comfortable operation switch 912, and an energy saving operation switch 914 are provided. The comfortable operation switch 912 and the energy saving operation switch 914 are switches for switching the control mode of the sanitary device 10. When the comfortable operation switch 912 is selected, the sanitary device 10 performs control in pursuit of the comfort of the toilet environment even if the energy consumption increases, and when the energy saving operation switch 914 is selected, the comfort of the toilet environment is somewhat sacrificed. However, control is performed so that the energy consumption does not increase so much. One of the comfortable operation switch 912 and the energy saving operation switch 914 is always selected. That is, if the comfortable driving switch 912 is selected, the setting of the energy saving operation is automatically canceled, and conversely, if the energy saving driving switch 914 is selected, the setting of the comfortable driving is canceled.
[0187]
When the comfortable driving switch 912 is selected, it is considered that the operator of the auxiliary operation unit 18 strongly demands the comfort of the toilet environment. Therefore, the temperature of the heated toilet seat, the washing water, etc. is controlled to the temperature set by the operator regardless of the prediction result of the toilet use frequency. Even if it is predicted that the frequency of toilet use will be low, there is no possibility that the toilet will be used during that time, so toilet seats and washing water will be used so that the toilet can be used comfortably at any time. Is controlled to a set temperature. The set temperatures of the toilet seat and the washing water are set by the adjustment knobs 902 to 908 described above.
[0188]
When the energy saving operation switch 914 is selected, the operator of the auxiliary operation unit 18 seems to be confident that some comfort may be sacrificed in order to avoid wasting electricity usage. Therefore, the temperature is controlled to the temperature set by the operator in the time zone in which the toilet use frequency is predicted to be high, but the temperature is controlled to a low temperature so that the toilet user does not feel uncomfortable in other time zones. The temperature at which the toilet user does not feel uncomfortable is, for example, about 26 ° C. for the heated toilet seat and about 33 ° C. for the washing water. These values are experimentally obtained in advance and are set when the sanitary device 10 is shipped. Yes.
[0189]
FIG. 26 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the sanitary apparatus 10 controls the toilet environment based on the control mode set by the operator in the first mode and the prediction result of the toilet use frequency. The sanitary device 10 of this embodiment controls various temperatures such as the toilet seat temperature, the wash water temperature, and the hot air temperature. FIG. 26 shows only the wash water temperature and the toilet seat temperature as an example. The control data frame described above is shown on the upper side of FIG. 26, the control temperature of the wash water is shown below the control data frame, and the control temperature of the toilet seat is shown below the control temperature of the wash water. A predicted value of toilet use frequency is written in the control data frame. The predicted value “0” indicates a state where the toilet usage frequency is low, the predicted value “1” indicates a state where the usage frequency is in use, and the predicted value “2” indicates a state where the usage frequency is high.
[0190]
When the control mode selected by the auxiliary operation unit 18 is comfortable driving, control is performed so that the cleaning water temperature is always set to the set temperature regardless of the setting of the predicted value in the control data frame. In other words, if comfortable driving is selected, the operator may want to control the comfort of the toilet environment over the energy saving, so the toilet may be used even a little. As long as there is, the toilet seat temperature and the washing water temperature are always controlled so as to become the set temperature.
[0191]
On the other hand, when the control mode selected by the auxiliary operation unit 18 is energy saving operation, the predicted value of the control data frame is set to the set temperature in the time zone where “2” (toilet use frequency is high). Although it is controlled, the temperature of the washing water is controlled to 33 ° C. in other time zones. In other words, when energy-saving operation is selected as the control mode, it seems that the user wants to save energy even at the expense of some comfort. Control the temperature so that it is set to the set temperature. The temperature is controlled to save energy.
[0192]
  in this way,Comparative example aboveThe sanitary device 10 includes a control mode set in the auxiliary operation unit 18 andWhen energy-saving operation is selected,Learning results of toilet usageIn the endBased on the toilet environment changesOnly.
[0193]
(2) Second aspect:
FIG. 25B is an explanatory view showing the auxiliary operation unit 18 of the sanitary device 10 of the second aspect. Unlike the auxiliary operation unit 18 of the first mode, the auxiliary operation unit 18 of the second mode is provided with two energy saving operation switches, a weak energy saving operation switch 916 and a strong energy saving operation switch 918. When the operator of the auxiliary operation unit 18 wants to prioritize the comfort of the toilet environment over the energy saving, the comfortable driving switch 912 is selected, and the comfort of the toilet environment is selected for the energy saving. The weak energy saving operation switch 916 is selected when it is considered that it may be sacrificed somewhat, and the strong energy saving operation switch 918 is selected when it is considered that the comfort of the toilet environment may be considerably sacrificed. Note that any one of the three switches, the comfortable operation switch 912, the weak energy saving operation switch 916, and the strong energy saving operation switch 918, is always selected. That is, when one of the three switches is selected, the switch that has been selected so far is automatically released.
[0194]
FIG. 27 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the toilet environment such as the washing water temperature and the toilet seat temperature is controlled based on the set control mode and the prediction result of the toilet use frequency in the second mode. 27, the control data frame described above is shown, the control temperature of the wash water is shown below the control data frame, and the control temperature of the toilet seat is shown below the control temperature of the wash water. When the control mode selected by the auxiliary operation unit 18 is comfortable driving, control is performed so that the cleaning water temperature is always set to the set temperature regardless of the setting of the predicted value in the control data frame (solid line in the figure). reference). On the other hand, when the control mode selected by the auxiliary operation unit 18 is weak energy-saving operation, the predicted value of the control data frame is set to the set temperature in the time zone where “2” (toilet use frequency is high). However, in other time zones, the cleaning water temperature is controlled to be 33 ° C. (see the broken line in the figure). Furthermore, when strong energy-saving operation is selected, the toilet power supply and the heater water supply are cut off during the time period when the predicted value of the control data frame is “0” (toilet usage frequency is low). reference). In other words, when strong energy-saving operation is selected as the control mode, the operator thinks that the comfort of the toilet environment may be considerably sacrificed to save energy, so the toilet is almost not used. In the time zone when it is predicted not to be used, the heater power supply of the toilet seat and the washing water is cut to further save energy. Even when strong energy-saving operation is selected, control is performed so that the temperature is set during the time period in which the toilet is predicted to be used frequently, and in the time period in which it is predicted that the toilet is not used frequently. Control the wash water temperature to a low temperature that does not make the user uncomfortable.
[0195]
As described above, the operator of the auxiliary operation unit 18 selects either the strong energy-saving operation, the weak energy-saving operation, or the comfortable operation according to the degree of desire to save energy, and the selected content is used as the learning result of the toilet use situation. Since the toilet environment is controlled based on the interpretation result, it is possible to perform appropriate control in accordance with the operator's intention.
[0196]
(3) Third aspect:
In the second aspect described above, only two levels of “strong” or “weak” can be selected to the extent that energy saving is desired, but it may be possible to select without steps. FIG. 25C is an explanatory diagram illustrating the auxiliary operation unit 18 of the sanitary device 10 as an example of such a third aspect. In addition to the comfortable operation switch 912 and the energy saving operation switch 914, the auxiliary operation unit 18 of the third aspect is provided with an adjustment knob (hereinafter referred to as an energy saving knob) 922 for setting the degree of energy saving. . As the energy saving operation switch 914 is selected and the energy saving knob 922 is turned in the “strong” direction, the energy saving setting is strongly desired. On the contrary, as the energy-saving knob 922 is turned in the “weak” direction, it is desired that the comfort of the toilet environment be given priority over energy saving.
[0197]
As explained in the second aspect, the toilet seat and washing water are controlled to the set temperature when the toilet usage frequency is high, and the toilet user is kept at a low temperature so that the toilet user does not feel uncomfortable during the toilet usage frequency. If it is controlled and the toilet usage frequency is low, heater power such as toilet seat and washing water is cut off. Therefore, in the third aspect, the toilet environment comfort and energy savings are made according to the operator's intention by changing the ratio of the predicted value of the toilet usage frequency according to the degree of energy saving set by the energy saving knob 922. To achieve both. As a method for changing the ratio of the predicted values, for example, the method described above with reference to FIG. 20 or FIG. 22 can be applied.
[0198]
FIG. 28 is an explanatory diagram conceptually illustrating an example in which the ratio of the predicted value of the toilet usage frequency is changed according to the setting of the energy saving knob 922. As shown in the figure, when the energy saving knob 922 is set to the “weakest” side, the ratio of the toilet use frequency is set to about 2/3, for example, and the remaining ratio is set to the toilet use frequency. In this way, since the temperature of the toilet seat, washing water, etc. is controlled to the set temperature in about 2/3 of the day, the toilet can be used comfortably. In addition, in the remaining 1/3 of the time zone where it is considered that the toilet is not used much, the temperature is controlled to be lower than the set temperature in order to save energy, but the temperature is not low enough to make the toilet user uncomfortable. So the comfort of the toilet environment is not impaired.
[0199]
As the setting of the energy saving knob 922 is changed from “weak” to “strong”, the ratio of the toilet use frequency decreases and the ratio of the toilet use frequency increases. When the energy saving knob 922 exceeds the vicinity of “weak” and “strong”, a time zone of low toilet use frequency appears, and the proportion of low toilet use frequency increases as the setting is further brought closer to the “strong” side.
[0200]
When the setting of the energy saving knob 922 is set to the most “strong” side, it is considered that the operator of the auxiliary operation unit 18 desires to save energy as much as possible within a range that does not greatly damage the toilet environment. . Therefore, for example, the ratio of the toilet use frequency is set to about 1/4, the ratio of the toilet use frequency is set to about 1/4, and the remaining half is set to the toilet use frequency low. In this way, the heater power of the toilet seat and the washing water is cut off in about half the time of the day when it is predicted that the toilet will not be used, so that energy can be saved greatly. Since the toilet seat and the washing water temperature are controlled to the set temperature in the time zone when the toilet is used most frequently, the toilet can be used comfortably. In addition, during times when toilet use is not so frequent, the temperature of the toilet seat and washing water is controlled to a low temperature that the toilet user does not feel uncomfortable, so that the comfort of the toilet environment is not significantly impaired. You can save money.
[0201]
In FIG. 28, according to the setting of the energy saving knob 922, the ratio of toilet use frequency large / medium / small is set to change continuously. However, as described above, since there are only 32 time zones in the control data frame, it is not always possible to continuously change the ratio of the toilet use frequency as shown in FIG. In such a case, the threshold values th1 and th2 are determined so that the ratio of the toilet use frequency is closest to the ratio shown in FIG.
[0202]
(4) Fourth aspect:
In the 1st thru | or 3rd aspect demonstrated above, the control temperature of the toilet seat and the wash water was changed with the predicted value of the toilet use frequency. However, the frequency of use of the toilet can be considered as an index representing the time until the next use of the toilet. That is, it can be considered that the large toilet use frequency indicates that the time until the next toilet is used is short, and the low toilet use frequency indicates that the time until the next toilet is used is long. In the fourth aspect of the present embodiment, the predicted value of the toilet use frequency is regarded as an index representing the time until the next use of the toilet, and the toilet is operated as follows in accordance with the intention of the operator of the auxiliary operation unit 18. Control the environment.
[0203]
As the simplest example, the auxiliary operation unit 18 has the configuration shown in FIG. 25A, that is, two switches, a comfortable operation switch 912 and an energy saving operation switch 914, are provided as switches for setting the control mode, and only one of them is provided. The case where it is selected will be described. When the comfortable driving switch 912 is selected, it is considered that the operator of the auxiliary operation unit 18 always desires a comfortable toilet environment. Therefore, the temperature of the toilet seat, the washing water, and the like is always set. To control. When the energy saving operation switch 914 is selected, it is considered that the toilet environment may be sacrificed to save energy. Therefore, in order to achieve both a comfortable toilet environment and energy saving, the temperature of the toilet seat and washing water is controlled as follows.
[0204]
FIG. 29 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a method for controlling the temperature of a toilet seat, washing water, and the like according to a predicted value of the toilet use frequency in the fourth mode. In the fourth aspect, both the comfort of the toilet environment and the saving of energy are achieved by repeatedly turning on / off the heater power supply such as a toilet seat and washing water. For example, in a time zone in which it is predicted that the toilet is being used frequently (the predicted value in the control data frame is “1”), the toilet seat, washing water, and the like are controlled to have a set temperature during use of the toilet. However, when the use of the toilet is no longer detected, the heater power supply such as the toilet seat and the washing water is once cut off, and control is started so that the set temperature is reached again after 10 minutes. Here, the elapsed time until the control is restarted is determined based on toilet use information for the past 8 days accumulated in the learning data frame. That is, if the average number of toilet use over the past 8 days in the time zone where the toilet usage frequency is predicted to be moderate is calculated as 4 times, for example, one time zone corresponds to 45 minutes. In the time zone, the toilet is used every 45 / 4≈11 minutes. Therefore, after a margin of 1 minute, 10 minutes have passed since detection of toilet use, and it is predicted that the toilet will be used soon, and control of the temperature of the toilet seat, washing water, etc. is started.
[0205]
Similarly, toilet use is no longer detected during times when toilet use frequency is high (predicted value of control data frame “2”) or toilet use frequency is low (predicted value of control data frame “0”). The heater power supply for the toilet seat, washing water, etc. is once cut off, the control is started again after the time calculated based on the average number of times the toilet is used, and the temperature of the toilet seat, washing water, etc. is preset. To control.
[0206]
FIG. 30 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of a method for controlling the temperature of a toilet seat, washing water, or the like according to a predicted value of the toilet use frequency in the fourth mode. In the example shown in FIG. 30, while the toilet is being used, the temperature of the toilet seat, washing water, etc. is controlled to the set temperature. When the use of the toilet is no longer detected, the control target temperature is once lowered to room temperature. Thereafter, the target temperature is brought closer to the set temperature over a predetermined time. As a result, immediately after the use of the toilet is no longer detected, the heater power supply for the toilet seat and washing water is cut off. However, as the target temperature rises, the heater power supply turns on and warms the toilet seat and washing water from a certain time. . Here, the predetermined time until the target temperature returns from the room temperature to the set temperature is set as follows according to the predicted value of the toilet use frequency, as in the case described with reference to FIG. For example, if the average number of toilets used in the last 8 days in the time zone predicted to be in the toilet usage frequency is calculated as 4 times, one time zone corresponds to 45 minutes, so about 11 minutes in that time zone It can be considered that the toilet is used every time. Therefore, control is performed so that the temperature of the toilet seat, washing water, etc. becomes the set temperature 11 minutes after the toilet is used.
[0207]
However, since the time until the next use of the toilet thus obtained is an average time, the toilet may be used early. However, even if the toilet is used somewhat early, it is considered that the temperature is controlled to be close to the set temperature, so that the toilet user does not feel uncomfortable.
[0208]
Similarly, toilet use is no longer detected during times when toilet use frequency is high (predicted value of control data frame “2”) or toilet use frequency is low (predicted value of control data frame “0”). Then, the control target temperature of the toilet seat and the washing water is once lowered to room temperature and then gradually raised to the set temperature. In the time zone where the frequency of toilet use is predicted to be high, the time from when the toilet is used until the next use is considered short, so the target temperature is quickly returned to the set temperature, while the toilet use frequency is low. In the predicted time zone, it is considered that the time until the toilet is used next time is long, so the target temperature is slowly returned to the set temperature over a long time.
[0209]
As described above, in the fourth aspect, when the comfortable operation switch 912 of the auxiliary operation unit 18 is selected, the operator desires to use the toilet comfortably even if some energy is wasted. Therefore, in order to perform control in accordance with the operator's intention, control is performed so that the temperature of the toilet seat or the like is maintained at the set temperature. In addition, when the energy saving operation switch 914 is selected, it is considered that the operator desires to save energy even if the comfort of the toilet environment is somewhat impaired. In order to perform control, the next toilet use time is predicted based on the learning result, and when the use time of the toilet approaches, control of the toilet environment is started.
[0210]
In order to secure a comfortable toilet environment, the temperature of the toilet seat or the like may be controlled at all times during a time zone in which the toilet use frequency is predicted to be high. In order to save energy, the heater power is turned off to stop the temperature control of the toilet seat, washing water, etc., or the toilet user does not feel uncomfortable during the time when the toilet usage frequency is predicted to be low. The temperature may be controlled to a low temperature. Even in this case, energy can be saved while ensuring a comfortable toilet environment to some extent, so that control in accordance with the operator's intention can be performed.
[0211]
In the 4th aspect demonstrated above, after detecting use of a toilet, the target temperature of control was once lowered to room temperature. However, an appropriate temperature may be set according to the calculated value of the toilet use frequency, and the target temperature for control may be lowered to the set temperature after detecting the use of the toilet. For example, when it is calculated that the toilet usage frequency is high, the target temperature for control is slightly decreased. Thereafter, the target temperature is gradually increased. However, when the toilet is used frequently, the target temperature is decreased only slightly, so that the target temperature is quickly returned to the set temperature. On the other hand, if it is predicted that the frequency of toilet use will be low, the target temperature will be lowered to near room temperature. By doing so, it takes a long time for the control target temperature to return to the set temperature, and energy can be saved accordingly.
[0212]
(5) Fifth aspect:
As described above, in the first to fourth modes described above, the toilet use frequency is calculated from the toilet use information accumulated in the learning data frame, and the set control mode is interpreted based on the calculated toilet use frequency. did. In other words, if the data stored in the learning data frame is the same, the calculated value of the toilet use frequency will be the same even if the selected control mode is different. The control method, or in other words, the method of interpreting the frequency of toilet use was changed. This method has the advantage that it is possible to save memory for storing programs and data because it is only necessary to have a set of calculation data for calculating the toilet use frequency from the accumulated data and a control data frame for storing the calculation results. There is.
[0213]
On the other hand, in the fifth aspect, a plurality of arithmetic expressions are provided to calculate the toilet use frequency from the stored toilet use information, and when the control mode setting is changed, The toilet use frequency is recalculated and the calculation result is stored in the control data frame. Thus, the toilet environment is controlled based on the toilet use frequency calculated corresponding to the control mode. In such a method, different arithmetic expressions can be used for each control mode, and the arithmetic expression has a high degree of freedom in setting, so that a more suitable toilet use frequency can be calculated based on the accumulated data. For this reason, the toilet environment can be appropriately controlled according to the intention of the toilet user, and further energy saving can be achieved without impairing the comfort of the toilet environment.
[0214]
In the above description, it is assumed that there is one set of control data frames. However, as many control data frames as the number of control modes are provided, and toilets corresponding to each control mode are used regardless of whether they are selected. The calculated frequency value may always be stored in the control data frame. In this way, when the selection of the control mode is changed, it is possible to quickly change the control of the toilet environment.
[0215]
D. Prediction of toilet usage frequency before learning is completed
As described above, the sanitary device 10 according to the present embodiment interprets the setting contents of the operator of the auxiliary operation unit 18 based on the prediction result of the toilet use frequency, and thereby properly performs the toilet according to the operator's intention. Control the environment. However, if the toilet usage frequency is predicted by the above-described method before learning of the toilet usage status is completed, the prediction accuracy may deteriorate and control different from the operator's intention may occur. Therefore, the toilet usage frequency is predicted as follows before learning is completed.
[0216]
FIG. 31 is an explanatory diagram showing a method of predicting the toilet use frequency before learning is completed. Hereinafter, a description will be given with reference to FIG. On the first day of learning, toilet usage information is not accumulated at all, so the frequency of toilet usage is predicted to be high at all times. As mentioned above, the toilet seat and wash water temperatures are controlled to the preset temperature during times when the toilet is used frequently. Secure it.
[0217]
On the second day after the start of learning, toilet usage information for the first day is accumulated, so a rough prediction is made based on this data. That is, if a toilet is used even once in a total of four time zones, two before and after the time zone for which the toilet usage frequency is to be predicted, the usage frequency in that time zone is predicted to be large and If it is not used, the usage frequency is predicted to be medium. Here, since one time zone corresponds to 45 minutes, four time zones correspond to 3 hours. In other words, it is judged that the toilet is used frequently only when the toilet is not used once in 3 hours, so even if only one day of data is accumulated, the toilet environment can be greatly impaired. Absent.
[0218]
On the third day after the start of learning, toilet usage information for two days is accumulated, so the use frequency of the toilet is predicted using this data. In other words, if the toilet has been used more than once in the past two days in a total of four time zones, two before and after the time zone for which the toilet usage frequency is to be predicted, the usage frequency during that time zone is predicted to be large. Otherwise, the frequency of toilet use is predicted to be medium. At the time of the third day after the start of learning, the toilet use frequency is not predicted to be low even if there is a time zone when the toilet is not used at all. As described above, if the frequency of use is predicted to be low, heater power such as toilet seats and washing water may be cut off, and the toilet environment due to incorrect prediction may be greatly impaired. Because there is. As a result of frequent discomfort for toilet users before learning is completed, if the toilet user cancels energy-saving operation or changes strong energy-saving operation to weak energy-saving operation, further energy savings can be achieved. Can not. Therefore, it is possible to ensure the final energy saving effect by not predicting that the toilet use frequency is low until the prediction accuracy of the toilet use frequency is improved.
[0219]
On the fourth day after the start of learning, toilet usage information for three days is accumulated, and based on this, it becomes possible to make a more accurate prediction. Therefore, a time zone in which the toilet is used at least once in the past three days in a total of two time zones before and after the time zone for which the usage frequency is to be predicted is predicted as a high usage frequency. In addition, in a total of four time zones, two before and after the time zone to be predicted, a time zone in which the number of times the toilet has been used for the past three days is 2 times or less is predicted as a low toilet usage frequency. However, if the time zone in which the toilet is used less frequently increases, the heater power supply such as the toilet seat may be cut off in many time zones of the day, and the toilet environment may be greatly impaired. Therefore, when the time zone with low usage frequency exceeds 25% per day, the threshold value is reduced so that the ratio of the time zone with low usage frequency does not exceed 25%. It is predicted that the frequency of use is medium during times when the frequency of toilet use is neither high nor low.
[0220]
From the fifth day after the start of learning, the toilet use frequency is predicted in substantially the same manner as the fourth day. However, in order to improve the prediction accuracy by the increase in the amount of toilet use information accumulated, conditions for predicting that the toilet use frequency is high are becoming strict. In other words, on the 5th and 6th days after the start of learning, unless the toilet is used more than once in two time zones, one before and after, and on the 7th and 8th days after learning start, Unless the toilet is used three times or more in two time periods, the frequency of use of the toilet is not predicted to be high in that time period.
[0221]
The sanitary device 10 of the present embodiment predicts the toilet usage frequency as described above even during the accumulation of the toilet usage information. Therefore, even before the learning is completed, the toilet device 10 can be appropriately used according to the intention of the operator of the auxiliary operation unit 18. It is possible to control the environment. As a result, there is no possibility that the toilet user cancels the energy saving operation or changes the strong energy saving operation to the weak energy saving operation before the learning is completed, and a predetermined energy saving effect can be obtained.
[0222]
E. Measures to cut off power such as power outages
When the use of the toilet is detected, the sanitary device 10 of the present embodiment stores the detected use time together with the temporarily registered data frame, and accumulates the toilet use information for one day in the learning data frame. As described above, the temporary registration data frame is provided on the RAM 706 in the DC control unit 700. However, in general, in order to retain the data stored in the RAM, it is necessary to apply a predetermined voltage, so the outlet is unplugged for toilet maintenance such as power outages and cleaning, When the supply of power to the sanitary device 10 is cut off, the toilet use information stored in the temporary registration data frame disappears. Further, since the built-in clock 710 in the DC control unit 700 is stopped while the power supply to the sanitary device 10 is cut off, the toilet use time after that is stored with the toilet use time shifted. . If the accumulated toilet use time is misaligned, the use of the toilet cannot be accurately predicted. In the sanitary device 10 of the present embodiment, even if the power is cut off due to a power failure or toilet cleaning, the stored toilet use information is not lost or the toilet use time is not shifted as follows. The memory is protected when the power is turned off, and the shift in the toilet use time due to the power being turned off is corrected.
[0223]
(1) Memory protection at power-off
FIG. 32 is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing a power supply path in the sanitary device 10. When the power cord of the sanitary device 10 is plugged into an outlet, AC power of 100 volts is supplied from the commercial power source 730 to the power circuit 732. The power supply circuit 732 converts AC 100 volt power into two types of power: DC 5 volt electricity and DC 24 volt electricity. The DC power of 5 volts is supplied to the DC control unit 700, and the DC power of 24 volts is supplied to the AC control unit 600. As shown in the figure, most of the components such as the CPU 702, the ROM 704, and the built-in clock 706 in the DC control unit 700 are directly supplied with DC 5 volts, but the RAM 706 is supplied with power via the power failure monitoring unit 734. Have been supplied. The power failure monitoring unit 734 constantly monitors the voltage supplied from the power supply circuit, and switches to power supply from the battery 736 when detecting that the voltage has dropped due to a power failure or the outlet of the sanitary device 10 being unplugged. As the battery 736, either a primary battery or a secondary battery can be applied, and a large-capacity capacitor or the like can also be applied. As described above, the sanitary device 10 according to the present embodiment supplies power from the battery to the RAM 706 when a power failure or the like is detected. Therefore, even if the power is cut off due to a power failure or an outlet, the temporary registration data frame stores the power. Toilet usage information will not disappear. In addition, as described above, in the sanitary device 10 of the present embodiment, the toilet use information accumulated in the learning data frame is stored in the nonvolatile memory 708, and thus accumulated even if the power supply is cut off due to a power failure or the like. Data will never disappear. As the nonvolatile memory 708, an EEPROM such as a flash memory is used.
[0224]
(2) Correction of misalignment of toilet use time due to power-off
The sanitary device 10 of this embodiment receives a signal (hereinafter, this signal is referred to as a time signal) periodically from the remote controller 20 once a day, and uses this time signal as a reference for the time of a power failure or the like. Correct the deviation. The time signal is transmitted from an infrared light emitting element built in the remote controller 20 to the communication circuit 714 in the DC control unit 700 on an infrared carrier wave. Hereinafter, a method for correcting the time difference will be described.
[0225]
As described above, the sanitary device 10 divides a day into 32 blocks each having a width of 45 minutes, and accumulates toilet use information in the form of the number of times the toilet is used in each block. Each time the use of the toilet is detected, the toilet use information is accumulated in the temporary registration data frame, and when the data for one day is accumulated, it is registered in the learning data frame. The learning data frame can store toilet usage information for 8 days, and when new data is registered, old data is erased. In this embodiment, the time signal is received from the remote controller 20 once a day, but the block number of the received signal is also stored in the temporary registration data frame and the learning data frame.
[0226]
The method for correcting the time lag due to a power failure is whether the time signal is received when there is a power failure, in other words, the block number that received the time signal is stored in the temporary registration data frame at the time of the power failure. It depends on whether or not it is done. Therefore, first, an outline of a method for correcting a time shift will be described for a case where a power failure occurs before receiving a time signal and then for a case where a power failure occurs after receiving a time signal.
[0227]
FIG. 33 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of a method for correcting a time lag when a power failure occurs before receiving a time signal. FIG. 33A shows the latest accumulated data for one day among the toilet usage information for eight days accumulated in the learning data frame. The toilet usage information for one day is composed of 32 blocks, and the number of times the toilet is used is written in each block. In addition, the hatched block in the figure indicates that a time signal has been received in that block. In the example shown in FIG. 33A, the time signal is received while the 24th block is being accumulated.
[0228]
FIG. 33B shows a state in which toilet use information is accumulated in the temporary registration data frame. It is assumed that a power failure occurred during the accumulation of toilet usage information in the eighth block. Since the built-in clock 710 stops during a power failure and the elapsed time is unknown, it is not known from which block the data should be accumulated even after the power failure. For the time being, the restroom use information after the return is accumulated as temporary data from the block immediately after the power failure. In the example shown in FIG. 33, toilet use information is accumulated as temporary data from the block immediately after the power failure, that is, the ninth block. In FIG. 33 (b), parentheses are added to the numbers of the ninth and subsequent blocks, indicating that they are stored as temporary data.
[0229]
When temporary data is accumulated in this way, a time signal is received at a certain time. In FIG. 33B, the time signal is received by the 21st block. Here, since the time signal is transmitted every 24 hours, if there is no power failure, it should be received in the 24th block as in the case of stored data. That is, from 24-21 = 3, it can be considered that a power failure occurred for a time corresponding to three blocks. Accordingly, since the power failure period was not known, data was temporarily stored after the 9th block immediately after the power failure recovery, but it can be understood that it is only necessary to shift the data by 3 blocks and store it after the 12th.
[0230]
Based on the power failure period calculated in this way, the shift in the toilet use time can be corrected as shown in FIG. Immediately after the power failure, the data accumulated in the ninth and subsequent blocks as temporary data is shifted by 3 blocks corresponding to the power failure time and stored after the twelfth block. After correcting the shift of the toilet use time, the toilet use information is accumulated as usual, and when the data for one day is accumulated in the temporary registration data frame, it is registered in the learning data frame.
[0231]
In addition, as shown in FIG.33 (d), since the use of a toilet cannot be detected during a power outage period (three blocks from the ninth to the eleventh), the toilet use information is blank and the toilet is used. Will be accumulated as unused. However, even during a power outage, the toilet is naturally used. Therefore, in the event of a power outage for a long time, if it is treated that the toilet was not used during the power outage period, data that is far from the actual toilet usage status will be accumulated. The accuracy may be reduced. So, if the power outage period in 32 blocks a day is about 3 blocks, if the power outage period is longer than the predetermined period, the toilet usage information for that day is discarded without accumulating, and instead the dedicated data frame mentioned above is used. Accumulation of past average usage data accumulated in advance is prevented, thereby preventing a decrease in prediction accuracy. Since the substitute data is accumulated in this way, as described with reference to FIG. 19, even when the toilet use frequency is calculated with a predetermined weight according to the data accumulation date, It is possible to calculate with appropriate weights. Of course, the data accumulated in the past may be written only during the power failure period, and if the weight corresponding to the data accumulation date is not given, the data may not be accumulated on the day with a long power failure time.
[0232]
Next, an outline of a method for correcting a time shift when a power failure occurs after receiving a time signal will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 34A shows a state where toilet use information is accumulated in the temporary registration data frame. In the example shown in FIG. 34, a power failure occurs in the middle of accumulating data in the 15th block, but a time signal is received in the previous 12th block. Since the elapsed time is not known during a power failure, it is not known from which block to store the data after the power failure is restored. Therefore, as in the case described with reference to FIG. 33, temporary data is sequentially stored from the block immediately after the power failure. In the example of FIG. 34A, temporary data is accumulated from the 16th block. Note that parentheses are added to the numbers of the 16th and subsequent blocks, indicating that they are stored as temporary data.
[0233]
When temporary data is accumulated in this way, a time signal is received at a certain time. In FIG. 34A, the time signal is received by the 38th block. Here, since it was the 12th block that received the time signal last time, if there was no power failure, it should have been received in the 44th block from 12 + 32 = 44. However, since it is the 38th block that was actually received, it can be considered that a power failure occurred for 6 blocks corresponding to the difference between the 44th and 38th blocks. Therefore, if the data accumulated in the 16th and subsequent blocks as temporary data is shifted by 6 blocks and accumulated in the 22nd and subsequent blocks, the time shift due to a power failure can be corrected.
[0234]
FIG. 34 (b) shows the result of correcting the power failure period in this way. The first to thirty-second data are data that should be stored in the learning data frame, and the thirty-third and subsequent data are considered to be currently stored data. Therefore, the accumulated data in FIG. 34 (b) is divided into accumulated data for two days as shown in FIG. 34 (c). That is, the first to thirty-second data in FIG. 34 (b) are accumulated in the learning data frame, and the thirty-third and subsequent data are temporarily registered as data in the middle of accumulation as shown in the lower side of FIG. Reset to the first and subsequent blocks in the data frame.
[0235]
FIG. 35 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing for correcting a time lag due to a power failure or the like based on the concept described above. This process is activated when it is detected that power supply has been resumed after a power failure. The restart of power supply is detected by the power failure monitoring unit 734 in the DC control unit 700 (see FIG. 32). In the following, a process for correcting a time shift due to a power failure or the like will be briefly described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
[0236]
When returning from a power failure, it is determined whether or not a time signal is included in the data of the temporary registration data frame (step S400). As described above, the method for correcting the time difference is different between when a power failure occurs before receiving a time signal and when a power failure occurs after receiving a time signal. Therefore, in order to determine which method is used for correction, it is first determined whether or not the time signal is included in the data being stored in the temporarily registered data frame.
[0237]
When the time signal is not accumulated in the temporarily registered data frame, it can be determined that a power failure has occurred before receiving the time signal. That is, in this case, the time difference may be corrected using the concept described with reference to FIG. Therefore, first, the latest stored data registered in the learning data frame is referred to, and the block number B1 that received the time signal is acquired (step S402).
[0238]
When the number of the block that received the time signal is obtained, the process of accumulating toilet use information in the temporary registration data frame is resumed, but it is unknown how much time has passed during the power outage, so which block in the temporary registration data frame I don't know if I should accumulate it. Therefore, data is sequentially accumulated as temporary data from the next block after the power failure, and is accumulated until a time signal is received (steps S404 and S406).
[0239]
When the time signal is received, as described above, the number of blocks corresponding to the power outage can be determined from the number of the block storing data at that time, and how many blocks were out of power. If it can be known, it becomes possible to correct the time lag due to the power failure (see FIG. 33). Therefore, in order to perform such correction, the block number B2 accumulated at the time of receiving the time signal is acquired (step S408). Next, by calculating the difference between the block number B1 acquired in advance and the block number B2 when the time signal is received, the number of blocks corresponding to the power failure time can be obtained (step S410). In other words, since the time signal is transmitted in a 24-hour cycle, if there was no power failure, the time signal should have been received in the B1th block in the same way as the data stored in the learning data frame. . However, since it was actually received by the B2nd block, it can be considered that the power failure occurred for the number of blocks corresponding to the difference between B1 and B2.
[0240]
If it is possible to determine how many blocks the time during which a power failure occurred corresponds to the data, the data temporarily registered in the processing of steps S404 to S406 after the recovery from the power failure is stored again in the correct block (step S412). ), The misalignment correction process is finished, and thereafter the toilet use information is accumulated as usual.
[0241]
In step S400, when the time signal is not accumulated in the temporarily registered data frame, that is, when it is determined that a power failure has occurred before receiving the time signal, the deviation can be corrected as described above. On the other hand, when the time signal is accumulated in the temporary registration data frame in step S400, that is, when it is determined that a power failure has occurred after receiving the time signal, using the concept described with reference to FIG. Correct the deviation as follows.
[0242]
First, the block number B1 in which the time signal is accumulated in the temporarily registered data frame is acquired (step S414). When the block number in which the time signal is stored is obtained, the process of storing the toilet use information in the temporary registration data frame is resumed, but it is unknown how much time has passed during the power outage, so the temporary registration data frame I don't know from which block to accumulate. Therefore, data is sequentially accumulated as temporary data from the next block after the power failure, and is accumulated until a time signal is received again (steps S416 and S418).
[0243]
When the time signal is received again, the block number B2 is acquired (step S420). Since the time signal is transmitted in a cycle of 24 hours, if there is no power failure, the block number for receiving the time signal for the second time should be (B1 + 32). However, since it was actually received in the B2th block, the difference between (B1 + 32) and B2 is considered to be the number of blocks corresponding to the period during which the power failure occurred. Therefore, (B1 + 32) −B2 is calculated, and the value is set as the number of blocks corresponding to the power failure time (step S422).
[0244]
If it is possible to determine how many blocks the time during which a power failure occurred corresponds to the number of blocks, after temporarily recovering from the power failure, the data temporarily registered in the processing of steps S416 to S418 is stored again in the correct block and No. 32 through No. 32 are registered in the learning data frame, and No. 33 and subsequent data are set in the temporary registration data frame as data being accumulated (step S424). When the above processing is completed, the misalignment correction processing is terminated, and thereafter, toilet use information is accumulated in the temporary registration data frame as usual.
[0245]
Further, after returning from a power failure, time information may be requested from the remote controller 20, and information on the current time may be transmitted to the auxiliary operation unit 18 in response to the request. If the time after the return can be known in this way, the toilet use information can be accumulated as usual thereafter.
[0246]
In the correction method described above, a time signal is periodically transmitted from the remote controller 20, and the time shift is corrected by calculating a period during which a power failure has occurred based on this signal. Such a method can be corrected accurately and relatively easily, but it is necessary to transmit a time signal from the remote controller 20. Therefore, the following correction method that does not require transmission of a time signal can be used.
[0247]
FIG. 36 is an explanatory diagram showing the principle of correcting time deviation without using a time signal. FIG. 36A shows, as an example, a case where data is stored in the eighth block of the temporary registration data frame at the time of a power failure. When recovering from a power failure, data is accumulated for a predetermined number of blocks following the block immediately after the power failure. A block that is stored in a predetermined number after recovery from a power failure is hereinafter referred to as an inspection block group. In the example shown in FIG. 36, the number of blocks included in the test block group is six.
[0248]
In the method described below, the period of power outage is obtained by examining the correlation between the data of the test block group and the data accumulated in the past. That is, since it is considered that the toilet is used in almost the same pattern every day, the data accumulated in the test block group is considered not to be significantly different from the toilet usage pattern accumulated in the past. Therefore, it is possible to check the correlation between the data of the test block group and the accumulated data while shifting the position of the test block group little by little, and consider the position with the best correlation as the original position where the data of the test block group is stored. it can. Hereinafter, a specific description will be given with reference to FIGS. 36B to 36F.
[0249]
FIG. 36B shows accumulated data of the latest date in the learning data frame as an example of data accumulated in the past. Since data for 8 days is accumulated in the learning data frame, data obtained by averaging 8 days may be used.
[0250]
FIG. 36C is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the correlation with the accumulated data is examined before shifting the inspection block group. In the example of FIG. 36, it is assumed that a power failure occurred during accumulation of the eighth block, so the first block (indicated by “*” in the figure) of the inspection block group is the ninth block position. As is clear from FIG. 36 (c), the data of the inspection block group and the accumulated data do not coincide at all. It is also possible to quantify the amount of deviation between the data of the inspection block group and the accumulated data as follows.
[0251]
First, paying attention to the first block (block marked with “*” in the figure) of the test block group, the data of the test block group is “0”, and the corresponding block (9 in the learning data frame in the figure). Since the accumulated data of the second block) is “2”, the absolute value of the difference between the two data is taken, and it can be considered that there is a deviation of “2” between them here. Similarly, for the second block in the test block group, the data in the test block group is “0” and the accumulated data is “1”, so the deviation that occurs in the second block in the test block group is “1”. Become. Thereafter, similarly, the amount of deviation when the first block of the test block group is at the ninth block position of the learning data frame can be quantified as 2 + 1 + 1 + 0 + 1 + 1 = 6.
[0252]
FIG. 36D is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the correlation between the data of the test block group and the accumulated data is examined when the head of the test block group is shifted to the twelfth block position of the learning data frame. is there. At first glance, it can be seen that the data of the test block group and the accumulated data are in good agreement. Actually, when the amount of deviation in this state is obtained using the above-described method, 0 + 0 + 0 + 0 + 0 + 1 = 1 is obtained, and the quantified amount of deviation is extremely small.
[0253]
FIG. 36E shows a state where the inspection block group is further shifted by one block from the state shown in FIG. As is apparent from the figure, even if the position of the test block group is shifted by one block, the correlation between the data of the test block group and the accumulated data is greatly deteriorated. When the amount of deviation is quantified by the above-described method, it is 0 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 0 + 0 = 3, and it can be seen that the amount of deviation is increased as compared with the state of FIG.
[0254]
As described above, when the head position of the test block group matches the twelfth block position of the learning data frame, the amount of deviation between the data of the test block group and the accumulated data is the smallest. Therefore, it is considered that the data of the inspection block group temporarily stored after the 9th block immediately after the recovery from the power failure should originally be stored in the 12th and subsequent blocks. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 36 (f), the time shift due to the power failure is corrected by storing the data of the inspection block group in the 12th and subsequent blocks of the temporary registration data frame.
[0255]
In the above description, it is assumed that the inspection block group includes six blocks. However, the number of blocks included in the test block group is not limited to six as long as the use of the toilet is stored in the test block group to the extent that a correlation with the accumulated data is required. For example, it is possible to flexibly change the number of blocks included in the test block group according to the use status of the toilet by, for example, stopping the accumulation of data in the test block group after detecting the use of the toilet three times. is there.
[0256]
As described above, various methods have been described as methods for correcting the time lag due to power-off such as a power failure. Of course, power may be supplied from the battery or the like to the internal clock 710 during a power failure. Due to advances in semiconductor technology, it is now possible to easily obtain a built-in clock with low power consumption. In the event of a power failure, if the built-in clock 710 is driven by battery power, the toilet can be used immediately after recovery from the power failure. Accumulation of information can be started.
[0257]
Finally, the operation of the toilet device 10 of this embodiment for initializing toilet use information accumulated in the learning data frame will be described. As described above, the sanitary device 10 of the present embodiment accumulates toilet use information for 8 days and calculates the toilet use frequency based on this data. However, if the toilet user's work style changes or the usage pattern of the toilet changes greatly due to the summer vacation, etc., the toilet usage frequency is calculated based on the accumulated data. It is not possible to calculate the usage frequency suitable for the usage pattern. Therefore, in such a case, the control corresponding to the new usage pattern of the toilet is made possible by initializing the accumulated data.
[0258]
FIG. 37 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation unit of the remote controller 20 used in the sanitary device 10 of the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the remote controller 20 has a butt cleaning switch 950 for instructing the sanitary device 10 to start cleaning the butt, a bidet switch 952 for instructing the start of bidet cleaning, and a temperature for instructing the start of hot air drying. An air drying switch 954, a stop switch 956 for instructing stoppage of the buttocks cleaning, bidet cleaning or hot air drying, and an indoor heating switch 958 for instructing on / off of the indoor heating are provided. In addition, a nozzle position adjustment switch 960 that finely adjusts the nozzle tip position, a move switch 962 that performs cleaning while moving the position of the cleaning nozzle back and forth, a water pressure adjustment switch 964 that adjusts the momentum at which cleaning water is ejected, and the momentum that is ejected There are also provided a massage switch 966 for cleaning while applying strength, a display unit 968 for displaying the setting position of the nozzle position and the water flow of washing water, a time display unit 970 for displaying the current time, and the like.
[0259]
The sanitary device 10 of this embodiment initializes the toilet use information stored in the learning data frame when the toilet user continues to press the stop switch 956 and the hot air drying switch 954 simultaneously for 3 seconds or more. The initialization operation is performed in the toilet use information accumulation routine described above with reference to FIG. That is, a flag for invalidating the learning data is set at a predetermined address in the memory, and the toilet use information accumulation routine shown in FIG. 11 is restarted. Then, it is determined in step S100 in FIG. 11 that there is no learning data, and in the subsequent step S102, all data in the learning data frame is initialized. After all accumulated data is initialized in this way, new data is accumulated to calculate the toilet use frequency. Of course, since the toilet use frequency is calculated by the method described above with reference to FIG. 31 until the data accumulation is completed, the toilet user can comfortably use the toilet immediately after the initialization operation.
[0260]
The condition for starting the initialization operation in the sanitary device 10 of the present embodiment is that the stop switch 956 and the hot air drying switch 954 are simultaneously pressed for 3 seconds or more for the following reason. As shown in FIG. 37, since the stop switch 956 and the hot air drying switch 954 are provided apart from each other, for example, during the cleaning of the toilet, it is almost impossible to keep pressing these two switches simultaneously for 3 seconds or more. I don't think I get. It is also unlikely that the toilet user will mistakenly operate the remote controller 20 and keep pressing the switch for instructing the start and stop of hot air drying for 3 seconds. Therefore, if such a condition is set, it is possible to avoid accidentally initializing learning data accumulated for a long period of time.
[0261]
As described above, in the sanitary device 10 of the present embodiment, the use of the toilet is detected to learn the toilet use status, and the control content suitable for the learning result and the set control mode is taken into consideration. Is determined. As a result, further energy savings can be achieved without compromising the comfort of the toilet environment.
[0262]
In the above description, the initialization operation is started by continuously pressing a plurality of switches. However, the initialization operation is started when a plurality of predetermined switches are pressed in a predetermined order. It can also be. At this time, it is preferable that the order of operating the plurality of switches is an order that cannot occur in normal use. For example, initialization may be performed by pressing the hot air drying switch 954, the bidet switch 952, and the buttocks cleaning switch 950 in this order within a predetermined time.
[0263]
Since the hot air drying switch 954 is used after the butt washing or the bidet washing, it is considered that the hot air drying switch 954 is pushed soon after the butt washing switch 950 or the bidet switch 952 is pressed in normal use. The stop switch 956 should be pushed immediately before the hot air drying switch 954 is pushed. Accordingly, when the hot air drying switch 954 is pressed, whether the toilet user has instructed the start of hot air drying or not is determined depending on whether or not such a switch has been operated. It is possible to distinguish whether it is instructing. In normal use, after operating the hot air drying switch 954, the stop switch 956 should be pressed to stop the hot air drying, but the bidet switch 952 is pressed after the hot air drying switch 954. Therefore, it is possible to identify that it is not normal use, and since the wiping cleaning switch 950 is pressed, it is possible to eliminate the risk of erroneous initialization due to some malfunction. Is possible.
[0264]
Although various embodiments have been described above, the present invention is not limited to all the embodiments described above, and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the scope of the invention.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a sanitary device according to an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which various sanitary function-related parts are housed in the casing of the sanitary device of the present embodiment.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a water supply system of a nozzle unit in the sanitary device of the present embodiment.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a hot air unit and a room warming unit in the sanitary device of the present embodiment.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a deodorizing unit in the sanitary device of the present embodiment.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a heating toilet seat unit in the sanitary device of the present embodiment.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of control of sanitary functions in the sanitary device of the present embodiment.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing various methods by which the sanitary apparatus of the present embodiment detects use of a toilet.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a state where one day is divided into a plurality of time zones in the sanitary device of the present embodiment.
FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of a data frame for storing toilet use information in the sanitary device of the present embodiment.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing in which the sanitary apparatus of the present embodiment accumulates toilet use information.
FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a method in which the sanitary device of the present embodiment detects the use of the toilet based on the outputs of a plurality of sensors.
FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a method in which the sanitary device of the present embodiment detects a toilet usage pattern based on outputs of a plurality of sensors.
FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the sanitary apparatus of the present embodiment accumulates toilet use information by distinguishing the use form of the toilet.
FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing a relationship between a control data frame and a learning data frame in the sanitary device of the present embodiment.
FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing data written in a learning data frame and a control data frame.
FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing in which the sanitary device of the present embodiment predicts toilet use frequency.
FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a flow of another process in which the sanitary device of this embodiment predicts the toilet use frequency.
FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a weighting coefficient used when calculating the toilet use frequency with different weights depending on the days when the toilet use information is accumulated.
FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram showing a method in which the sanitary device of the present embodiment changes the threshold value according to the average number of times the toilet is used.
FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a method of changing a threshold value according to a calculated distribution of toilet use frequency.
FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing a flow of threshold setting processing in the sanitary device of the present embodiment.
FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing a method of calculating the toilet use frequency at each time based on the use time of the toilet stored as toilet use information.
FIG. 24 is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing a method of calculating a toilet use frequency in each time zone based on a toilet use time stored as toilet use information.
FIG. 25 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an auxiliary operation unit in the sanitary device of the present embodiment.
FIG. 26 is an explanatory diagram showing an example in which the sanitary apparatus of the present embodiment controls the toilet environment based on the control mode and the toilet use frequency.
FIG. 27 is an explanatory diagram showing another example in which the sanitary device of the present embodiment controls the toilet environment based on the control mode and the toilet use frequency.
FIG. 28 is an explanatory diagram conceptually illustrating an example in which the sanitary device of the present embodiment changes the ratio of the predicted value of the toilet use frequency in accordance with the setting of the energy saving knob.
FIG. 29 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a method in which the sanitary apparatus of the present embodiment controls the toilet environment according to the toilet use frequency.
FIG. 30 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of a method in which the sanitary apparatus of the present embodiment controls the toilet environment according to the toilet use frequency.
FIG. 31 is an explanatory diagram showing a method for predicting the toilet use frequency before the sanitary device of this embodiment completes the learning of the toilet use status.
FIG. 32 is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing an example of a power supply path in the sanitary device of the present embodiment.
FIG. 33 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a method for correcting a time lag due to power-off by the sanitary device according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 34 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of a method for correcting a time lag due to power-off by the sanitary device of the present embodiment.
FIG. 35 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing in which the sanitary device of the present embodiment corrects time lag due to power-off.
FIG. 36 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of a method for correcting a time lag due to power-off by the sanitary device of the present embodiment.
FIG. 37 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an operation unit of a remote controller in the sanitary device according to the present embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 ... Sanitary equipment
12 ... Toilet seat
14 ... Toilet lid
16 ... casing
18 ... Auxiliary operation part
20 ... Remote control
92 ... Branch metal fittings
94 ... Water supply adapter
100 ... Nozzle unit
102 ... Cleaning nozzle
104 ... Bidet cleaning nozzle
106 ... Nozzle cleaning chamber
110 ... Mixing unit
112 ... Check valve
114 ... Pressure control valve
116 ... Solenoid valve
118 ... Heat exchanger
120 ... cold water thermistor
122 ... Warm water thermistor
124 ... Mixing valve
126 ... Mixing motor
128 ... Water discharge thermistor
140 ... Flow control unit
142 ... Flow control switching valve
144: Bypass valve
200 ... Warm air unit
202 ... Sirocco fan
204 ... Fan motor
206 ... Warm air heater
208 ... Thermistor
300 ... Heating toilet seat unit
302 ... Toilet seat heater
304 ... Toilet seat thermistor
400 ... room warming unit
408 ... Thermistor
500 ... deodorizing unit
502 ... Ozonizer
504 ... Ozonizer driver
506 ... Sirocco fan
508 ... Deodorizing motor
510 ... Catalyst
600 ... AC control unit
700 ... DC control unit
702 ... CPU
704 ... ROM
706 ... RAM
708: Non-volatile memory
710 ... Built-in clock
710: Non-volatile memory
712 ... Timer
714 ... Communication circuit
716 ... PIO
718 ... Bus
730 ... Commercial power supply
732 ... Power supply circuit
734 ... Power failure monitoring unit
736 ... Battery
802 ... Seating switch
804 ... Human body sensor
806, 807 ... Float switch
808 ... Water flow sensor
810, 811 ... Cleaning switch
900 ... Power switch
912 ... Comfortable operation switch
914 ... Energy saving operation switch
916 ... Weak energy saving operation switch
918 ... Strong energy-saving operation switch
950 ... Wet washing switch
952 ... Bidet switch
954 ... Hot air drying switch
956 ... Stop switch
958 ... Indoor heating switch
960 ... Nozzle position adjustment switch
962 ... Move switch
964 ... Water adjustment switch
966 ... Massage switch
968 ... display section
970 ... Time display section

Claims (55)

The sanitary apparatus having a plurality of toilet environment control modes, wherein the plurality of control modes are control modes for saving energy consumption in the sanitary apparatus, and the degree of saving of energy consumption in the sanitary apparatus is different 2 Control mode detection means for detecting a control mode selected from among the control modes, toilet use detection means for detecting use of the toilet, and time at which use of the toilet is detected Control content determination for determining the control content of the toilet environment based on the combination of the toilet use information storage means for storing the relevant toilet use information and the detected control mode and the stored toilet use information And a toilet environment control means for controlling the toilet environment based on the determined control content. The sanitary device according to claim 1,
The toilet use detecting means is a sanitary apparatus which is means for detecting use of the toilet by detecting an operation of a function of the toilet. A sanitary device according to claim 2,
The function of the toilet is a sanitary device that is a function of washing the toilet. A sanitary device according to claim 3,
The sanitary apparatus, wherein the toilet use detecting means is means for detecting washing of the toilet by detecting a predetermined operation for washing the toilet. A sanitary device according to claim 3,
The toilet use detecting means is a sanitary apparatus that detects washing of the toilet by detecting a change in a water level in a tank provided for storing flush water of the toilet. A sanitary device having a plurality of toilet environment control modes ,
Control mode detecting means for detecting a control mode selected from the plurality of control modes;
Toilet use detection means for detecting the use of the toilet using the operation of the function of washing the toilet bowl among the operations of the function of the toilet;
Toilet use information storage means for storing toilet use information, which is information related to the time at which use of the toilet is detected;
Control content determination means for determining the control content of the toilet environment based on the detected control mode and the stored toilet use information,
Toilet environment control means for controlling the toilet environment based on the determined control content;
In addition,
The toilet use detecting means is a sanitary apparatus that detects washing of the toilet by detecting a water flow in a pipe for supplying washing water to the toilet. A sanitary device according to claim 2,
The function of the toilet is a sanitary apparatus that receives filth in the toilet. A sanitary device according to claim 7,
The toilet includes temperature detecting means for detecting a temperature of a portion where the toilet is in contact with the filth,
The sanitary apparatus, wherein the toilet use detecting means is means for detecting that the toilet has received filth based on the change in temperature. A sanitary device according to claim 2,
The function of the toilet is a sanitary device that is a function of cleaning a local body part. A sanitary device according to claim 2,
The function of the toilet is a sanitary device that is a function of drying the human body part after washing the body part. A sanitary device according to claim 2,
The function of the toilet is a sanitary device that functions to illuminate the toilet. A sanitary device according to claim 2,
The function of the toilet is a sanitary device that supports the weight of a toilet user sitting on the toilet. A sanitary device according to claim 2,
The sanitary apparatus, wherein the toilet use detecting means is means for detecting that a toilet has been used when operation of a function of the plurality of toilets is detected. A sanitary device according to claim 2,
Equipped with a human body detecting means for detecting the human body of the toilet user,
The sanitary apparatus, wherein the toilet use detecting means is means for detecting use of the toilet by detecting an operation of a function of the toilet and a human body of the toilet user. A sanitary device according to claim 14,
The sanitary apparatus, wherein the human body detecting means is means for detecting the human body of the toilet user in a non-contact manner using an optical or acoustic technique. A sanitary device according to claim 15,
The sanitary apparatus, wherein the human body detection means is a means for detecting the human body of the toilet user by infrared rays emitted from the human body. A sanitary device according to claim 15,
The sanitary apparatus, wherein the human body detection means is means for detecting the human body of the toilet user by determining whether the human body is blocking light or sound waves. The sanitary device according to claim 1,
The toilet use information storage means is means for storing the toilet use information for at least a predetermined period,
The control content determination means includes
A use frequency calculating means for calculating a toilet use frequency as an index representing the ease of use of the toilet at each time based on the stored toilet use information;
A sanitary apparatus, which is a means for determining the control content of the toilet environment at each time of day on which the control is performed based on the detected control mode and the calculated toilet use frequency. The sanitary device according to claim 18, wherein
The hygiene apparatus, wherein the use frequency calculating means is a means for calculating the toilet use frequency for each time zone set by dividing one day into a plurality of times. A sanitary device according to claim 19,
The toilet use information storage means is a sanitary apparatus that stores the number of times the toilet is used in each time zone set by dividing a day into a plurality of times as the toilet use information. A sanitary device according to claim 20,
The sanitary apparatus in which the setting of each time zone of the toilet use information storage unit and the setting of each time zone of the usage frequency calculation unit are the same. A sanitary device according to claim 20,
The setting of each time zone of the use frequency calculation means is a sanitary apparatus in which the setting is divided once in each time zone of the toilet use information storage means. The sanitary device according to claim 18, wherein
The use frequency calculating means is a means for calculating the multi-valued toilet use frequency by comparing a calculated value obtained by applying a predetermined arithmetic expression to the toilet use information and a predetermined threshold. Some sanitary equipment. A sanitary device having a plurality of toilet environment control modes,
Control mode detecting means for detecting a control mode selected from the plurality of control modes;
Toilet use detecting means for detecting use of the toilet;
An information serving toilet information associated with the time of detecting the use of the toilet, and the toilet information storage means for storing the toilet usage information for at least a predetermined period,
Control content determination means for determining the control content of the toilet environment based on the detected control mode and the stored toilet use information,
Toilet environment control means for controlling the toilet environment based on the determined control content,
The control content determination means includes
By comparing the toilet use frequency, which is an index representing the ease of use of the toilet at each time, with a calculated value obtained by applying a predetermined arithmetic expression to the stored toilet usage information and a predetermined threshold A use frequency calculating means for calculating the multi-valued toilet use frequency,
Based on the detected control mode and the calculated toilet use frequency, means for determining the control content of the toilet environment at each time of the day on which the control is performed, and further, the use frequency calculation means,
A plurality of the predetermined arithmetic expressions are provided,
A sanitary apparatus which is means for switching the plurality of arithmetic expressions according to a predetermined condition such as the detected control mode or the use status of a toilet. A sanitary device having a plurality of toilet environment control modes,
Control mode detecting means for detecting a control mode selected from the plurality of control modes;
Toilet use detecting means for detecting use of the toilet;
An information serving toilet information associated with the time of detecting the use of the toilet, and the toilet information storage means for storing the toilet usage information for at least a predetermined period,
Control content determination means for determining the control content of the toilet environment based on the detected control mode and the stored toilet use information,
Toilet environment control means for controlling the toilet environment based on the determined control content,
The control content determination means includes
By comparing the toilet use frequency, which is an index representing the ease of use of the toilet at each time, with a calculated value obtained by applying a predetermined arithmetic expression to the stored toilet usage information and a predetermined threshold A use frequency calculating means for calculating the multi-valued toilet use frequency,
Based on the detected control mode and the calculated toilet use frequency, the means for determining the control content of the toilet environment at each time of the day on which the control is performed, and the use frequency calculation means, A sanitary apparatus which is means for correcting the value of the predetermined threshold based on the calculation result and calculating the toilet use frequency again when the calculation result of the toilet use frequency is different from the predetermined distribution. A sanitary device having a plurality of toilet environment control modes,
Control mode detecting means for detecting a control mode selected from the plurality of control modes;
Toilet use detecting means for detecting use of the toilet;
An information serving toilet information associated with the time of detecting the use of the toilet, and the toilet information storage means for storing the toilet usage information for at least a predetermined period,
Control content determination means for determining the control content of the toilet environment based on the detected control mode and the stored toilet use information,
Toilet environment control means for controlling the toilet environment based on the determined control content,
The control content determination means includes
By comparing the toilet use frequency, which is an index representing the ease of use of the toilet at each time, with a calculated value obtained by applying a predetermined arithmetic expression to the stored toilet usage information and a predetermined threshold A use frequency calculating means for calculating the multi-valued toilet use frequency,
Based on the detected control mode and the calculated toilet use frequency, the means for determining the control content of the toilet environment at each time of the day on which the control is performed, and the use frequency calculation means, Hygiene which is a means for correcting the value of the predetermined threshold so that the calculation time is reduced and calculating the toilet use frequency again when the time when the toilet use frequency is calculated to be equal to or less than a predetermined value exceeds the predetermined time apparatus. A sanitary device having a plurality of toilet environment control modes ,
Control mode detecting means for detecting a control mode selected from the plurality of control modes;
Toilet use detecting means for detecting use of the toilet;
Toilet use information storage means for storing toilet use information, which is information related to the time at which use of the toilet is detected;
Control content determination means for determining the control content of the toilet environment based on the detected control mode and the stored toilet use information,
Toilet environment control means for controlling the toilet environment based on the determined control content;
The toilet use information storage means is a means for storing the toilet use information for a predetermined plurality of days as at least a predetermined period ,
The control content determination means includes
By comparing the use frequency, which is an index representing the ease of use of the toilet at each time, with a predetermined threshold value and a calculated value obtained by applying a predetermined calculation formula to the stored toilet use information A use frequency calculating means for calculating the multi-valued toilet use frequency,
Based on the detected control mode and the calculated toilet use frequency, the means for determining the control content of the toilet environment at each time of the day on which the control is performed, and further, the use frequency calculation means, A sanitary apparatus, which is a means for calculating the toilet use frequency by applying a weight according to the date when the toilet use information is stored. A sanitary device according to claim 27,
The hygiene apparatus, wherein the use frequency calculation means is a means for calculating the toilet use frequency by assigning a greater weight to new toilet use information on the stored day. A sanitary device according to claim 27,
The hygiene apparatus, wherein the use frequency calculation means is a means for calculating the toilet use frequency by giving a large weight to the toilet use information stored seven days before the day of performing the control. The sanitary device according to claim 1,
Each of the plurality of control modes is a sanitary device that is a different control mode that allows the comfort of the toilet environment to be impaired. The sanitary device according to claim 1,
Each of the plurality of control modes is a sanitary device that is a control mode set by changing an amount of energy per unit time necessary for controlling the toilet environment. The sanitary device according to claim 1,
The control content determination means is means for determining a target temperature of the toilet environment as the control content,
The sanitary apparatus, wherein the toilet environment control means is a means for controlling the toilet environment so as to reach the determined target temperature. The sanitary device according to claim 18, wherein
The control content determination means is means for determining a target temperature of the toilet environment based on the detected control mode and the calculated toilet use frequency.
The sanitary apparatus, wherein the toilet environment control means is a means for controlling the toilet environment so as to reach the determined target temperature. A sanitary device having a plurality of toilet environment control modes ,
Control mode detecting means for detecting a control mode selected from the plurality of control modes;
Toilet use detecting means for detecting use of the toilet;
Toilet use information that is information related to the time at which the use of the toilet is detected, and that stores toilet use information for at least a predetermined period;
Control content determination means for determining the control content of the toilet environment based on the detected control mode and the stored toilet use information,
Toilet environment control means for controlling the toilet environment based on the determined control content;
With
The control content determination means includes
A use frequency calculating means for calculating a toilet use frequency as an index representing the ease of use of the toilet at each time based on the stored toilet use information;
Based on the detected control mode and the calculated toilet use frequency, a target temperature of the toilet environment is determined as the control content of the toilet environment at each time of the day on which the control is performed, and the toilet use is performed after the detection means detects use of the toilet, the target temperature is lowered from the first target temperature to the second target temperature, Ri means der to raise the target temperature of the first predetermined time after,
The toilet environment control means is a means for controlling the toilet environment so as to reach the determined target temperature.
Sanitary equipment. A sanitary device according to claim 34,
The said control content determination means is a sanitary apparatus which is a means to change the said predetermined time based on the detected control mode and the calculated toilet use frequency. A sanitary device according to claim 34,
The said control content determination means is a sanitary apparatus which is a means to change a said 2nd target temperature based on the detected control mode and the calculated said toilet use frequency. A sanitary device according to claim 34,
The control content determination means is a sanitary device that changes a temperature difference between the first target temperature and the second target temperature based on the detected control mode and the calculated toilet use frequency. . A sanitary device according to claim 34,
The control content determination means determines the target temperature from the first target temperature only when the calculated value of the toilet use frequency is included in a predetermined value range including the median value of the toilet use frequency. A sanitary device which is a means for lowering to the second target temperature. A sanitary device according to claim 34,
When the use of a toilet is detected when the target temperature is the second target temperature, the control content determination means determines the use of the toilet and then sets the target temperature to the second target temperature. A sanitary apparatus that is a means for temporarily raising the temperature to the first target temperature and lowering the temperature to the second target temperature after a predetermined time has elapsed. A sanitary device according to claim 39,
The control content determining means is a sanitary apparatus that is means for maintaining the target temperature at the first target temperature while the toilet use detecting means detects use of the toilet. A sanitary device according to claim 40,
The sanitary apparatus, wherein the control content determining means is means for maintaining the target temperature at the first target temperature for the predetermined time after the toilet use detecting means no longer detects use of the toilet. A sanitary device having a plurality of toilet environment control modes ,
Control mode detecting means for detecting a control mode selected from the plurality of control modes;
Toilet use detecting means for detecting use of the toilet;
Toilet use information storage means for storing toilet use information, which is information related to the time at which use of the toilet is detected;
Control content determination means for determining the control content of the toilet environment based on the detected control mode and the stored toilet use information,
Toilet environment control means for controlling the toilet environment based on the determined control content;
The toilet use information storage means is a means for storing the toilet use information for a predetermined plurality of days as the toilet use information for a predetermined period ,
The control content determination means includes
A use frequency calculating means for calculating a toilet use frequency as an index representing the ease of use of the toilet at each time based on the stored toilet use information;
Based on the detected control mode and the calculated toilet use frequency, is a means for determining the control content of the toilet environment at each time of day on which the control is performed,
While the toilet usage information stored in the toilet usage information storage means is less than the predetermined number of days, the toilet usage frequency is calculated by a method different from that after storing the toilet usage information for the predetermined number of days. Sanitary equipment that is means to do. A sanitary device according to claim 42,
The said control content determination means is a sanitary apparatus which is a means to calculate the said toilet use frequency so large that there are few days memorize | stored when the said stored toilet use information is less than the said predetermined number of days. A sanitary device according to claim 42,
The control content determination means is a means for calculating the minimum value of the toilet use frequency larger as the stored number of days is less when the stored toilet use information is less than the predetermined number of days. Some sanitary equipment. A sanitary device having a plurality of toilet environment control modes ,
Power storage means for storing a predetermined amount of power ;
Control mode detecting means for detecting a control mode selected from the plurality of control modes;
Toilet use detecting means for detecting use of the toilet;
The toilet use information is information related to the time when the use of the toilet is detected, and stores the toilet use information for at least a predetermined period , and the electric power necessary to hold the storage of the toilet use information is Toilet use information storage means supplied from the power storage means at the time of power failure of the sanitary device ,
Control content determination means for determining the control content of the toilet environment based on the detected control mode and the stored toilet use information,
Toilet environment control means for controlling the toilet environment based on the determined control content;
And further
The control content determination means includes
A use frequency calculating means for calculating a toilet use frequency as an index representing the ease of use of the toilet at each time based on the stored toilet use information;
A sanitary apparatus, which is a means for determining the control content of the toilet environment at each time of day on which the control is performed based on the detected control mode and the calculated toilet use frequency . The sanitary device according to claim 18, wherein
The toilet usage information storing unit, sanitary device Ru means der stored in the nonvolatile memory at least a portion of the toilet information. A sanitary device according to claim 46,
The toilet use information storage means stores toilet use information on the day when the control is performed and toilet use information before the day when the control is performed, and stores the toilet use information before the day when the control is performed in a nonvolatile memory. Sanitary device as a means. A sanitary device according to claim 46,
The toilet use information storage means includes
A volatile memory for sequentially storing the detected toilet use information;
A non-volatile memory for storing the toilet use information detected in the past,
A sanitary apparatus which is means for transferring the stored toilet use information to the nonvolatile memory when the toilet use information for a predetermined period is stored in the volatile memory. A sanitary device having a plurality of toilet environment control modes ,
Power storage means for storing a predetermined amount of power ;
Control mode detecting means for detecting a control mode selected from the plurality of control modes;
Toilet use detecting means for detecting use of the toilet;
Toilet use information, which is information related to the time at which the use of the toilet is detected, and stores toilet use information storage means for storing the toilet use information for at least a predetermined period;
Toilet use time measuring means that operates by receiving power supply and outputs information related to the time at which use of the toilet is detected to the toilet use information storage means;
Control content determination means for determining the control content of the toilet environment based on the detected control mode and the stored toilet use information,
Toilet environment control means for controlling the toilet environment based on the determined control content;
And further
The control content determination means includes
A use frequency calculating means for calculating a toilet use frequency as an index representing the ease of use of the toilet at each time based on the stored toilet use information;
Based on the detected control mode and the calculated toilet use frequency, is a means for determining the control content of the toilet environment at each time of day on which the control is performed,
The toilet time point measurement means, wherein the power failure of the sanitary device, sanitary device is a means which operates by receiving power from the power storage means. A sanitary device having a plurality of toilet environment control modes ,
Control mode detecting means for detecting a control mode selected from the plurality of control modes;
Toilet use detecting means for detecting use of the toilet;
Toilet use information, which is information related to the time at which the use of the toilet is detected, and stores toilet use information storage means for storing the toilet use information for at least a predetermined period;
Toilet use time measuring means that operates by receiving power supply and outputs information related to the time at which use of the toilet is detected to the toilet use information storage means;
After the supply of power is once interrupted and restarted, a time error correcting means for correcting a time error of the toilet use time measuring means caused by the interruption of the power supply by a predetermined method ;
Control content determination means for determining the control content of the toilet environment based on the detected control mode and the stored toilet use information,
Toilet environment control means for controlling the toilet environment based on the determined control content;
And further
The control content determination means includes
A use frequency calculating means for calculating a toilet use frequency as an index representing the ease of use of the toilet at each time based on the stored toilet use information;
A sanitary apparatus, which is a means for determining the control content of the toilet environment at each time of day on which the control is performed based on the detected control mode and the calculated toilet use frequency . A sanitary device according to claim 50,
The hygiene device, wherein the time error correction means is a means for correcting the time error based on a reference signal supplied at a predetermined time. A sanitary device according to claim 50,
The hygiene device, wherein the timing error correction unit is a unit that corrects the timing error by comparing the toilet use information stored after resuming the supply of power with the toilet use information stored up to the previous day. A sanitary device according to claim 1, sanitary apparatus provided with an initial catheter stage for initializing the toilet information before term memory. 54. The sanitary device according to claim 53, wherein the initialization means is means for initializing the toilet use information when a predetermined plurality of buttons are operated by a predetermined method. A toilet environment control method comprising a plurality of control modes and controlling the toilet environment according to a control mode selected from the control modes,
Wherein the plurality of control modes is a control mode to conserve energy consumption in the sanitary apparatus, comprising two or more control modes in which the degree of saving energy consumption in the sanitary device is different, selected from among the control modes Detect the control mode being used,
Detecting the use of the toilet,
Storing toilet use information as information related to the time when the use of the toilet is detected;
Based on the combination of the detected control mode and the stored toilet use information, the control content of the toilet environment is determined,
A toilet environment control method for controlling the toilet environment based on the determined control content.

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