JP3797804B2 - Abnormality detection device during bathing - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a bathing abnormality detection device that can detect abnormalities of a bather in a bath at an early stage, and more specifically, in the home security field, can be used particularly in an elderly person safety confirmation system and an emergency notification system. An apparatus for detecting an abnormality during bathing is provided.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As a conventional abnormality detection device during bathing, for example, there is a bathroom abnormality detection device disclosed in JP-A-8-50693. This conventional device has a large number of human body detection sensors (infrared sensors, optical sensors, etc.) inside the bathroom such as around the bathtub, and operates when each human body detection sensor detects a human body, and analyzes the operation patterns of all human body detection sensors. By doing so, an abnormality is detected. For example, in the case of falling down in a washing place, a large number of human body detection sensors installed at low positions on the wall surface around the washing place are operated for a long time, and the abnormality is detected by analyzing the operation pattern. When a bather stops moving in the bathtub, a large number of human body detection sensors installed around the bathtub or in the upper part of the bathtub are operated for a long time to detect the abnormality by analyzing the operation pattern. As described above, this conventional apparatus is a large-scale system for a new bathroom such as a hotel or an elderly center, and has a problem that it cannot be installed in an existing bathroom at home. Moreover, in order to improve the detection accuracy, a large number of human body detection sensors must be arranged in the bathroom, resulting in a problem that the device cost increases.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, the primary cause of accidental death in the home is drowning in the bathtub while bathing. Death during bathing is classified into drowning, which is an accidental death as described above, and morbidity that occurred during bathing such as heart disease. The total number of deaths from bathing is about 10,000 people every year, and the number of deaths is comparable to death from traffic accidents. In particular, many elderly people die from bathing, which is a big problem. Bathing deaths occur frequently in winter, and are caused by the magnitude of blood pressure fluctuations associated with bathing.
In particular, as an action with high risk during bathing, it is an action to stand up from a bathtub so as to get out of the bathtub. When immersed in a bathtub, the peripheral blood vessels expand due to the thermal effect, blood circulation is improved, and blood pressure is reduced. Furthermore, when the patient stands up in that state, the blood moves downward due to the influence of gravity, so that the brain and the heart fall into an ischemic state, thereby increasing the possibility of causing brain disease and heart disease. Even a healthy person may cause symptoms such as dizziness when getting out of the bathtub. If you lose consciousness in the bathtub, it often falls into the bathtub and leads to drowning. Even if it falls in the bathtub, it may be avoided that the head and shoulders are caught on the edge of the bathtub and the like and drowned. When investigating the case of drowning in the bathtub, it is often the case that the lengthwise dimension is short and deep, and the Japanese style bathtub is prone and drowned, and the long lengthwise dimension is shallow and drowned on the back. While death or accidental death may occur in the washing area, death in the bathroom is overwhelmingly death in the bathtub.
When immersed in the bathtub, breathing stops when the nose and mouth submerge due to some abnormality, and the heart stops after 1-2 minutes. Even if breathing stops and oxygen is not supplied to the brain, it can be revived by early detection and artificial respiration or cardiac massage. The relationship between submergence time and resuscitation rate is reported as 90% at 2 minutes, 75% at 3 minutes, 50% at 4 minutes, and 25% at 5 minutes. That is, when drowning during bathing, it is understood that the possibility of resuscitation increases if detected early.
[0004]
In the present invention, in view of the above-mentioned problems, the present inventor can further limit the detection of abnormalities leading to death in the bathroom, not in the entire bathroom, but in the bathtub, and the detection accuracy and detection effect can be improved by such limitation. It was made with a focus on being able to dramatically improve, and its purpose is to be able to detect abnormalities in the bathtub during bathing early, to be used in existing bathrooms in the home, and to be economical It is in the point which provides the inside abnormality detection apparatus.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve this object, the first characteristic configuration of the abnormality detecting device during bathing according to the present invention is to detect the movement and presence of the bather in the bathtub as described in claim 1 of the claims. Detectable moving object detection means, abnormality determination means for determining abnormality of the bather based on the detection result of the moving object detection means, and emergency information output means for outputting emergency information based on the determination result of the abnormality determination means The moving body detection means includes a sensor unit that is capable of transmitting an ultrasonic signal to an object facing and receiving an ultrasonic signal reflected by the object under the water surface in the bathtub. provided to measure the distance or distance equivalent to the object, the distance or distance equivalent detects the presence of said bather within the tub by less than a predetermined value, specifically the distance or distance equivalent time The movement of the bather in the bathtub is detected by the change, and the abnormality determination unit detects the presence of the bather in the bathtub by the moving body detection unit, and the movement of the bather Is not detected, and when the state continues for a predetermined time, it is determined that the bather is abnormal, and an abnormality detection signal is output to the emergency information output means .
[0006]
In the second characteristic configuration, in addition to the first characteristic configuration, as described in claim 2 in the column of the claims, the abnormality determination unit determines that the bather is abnormal First, a predetermined warning sound or warning message is generated, and an alarm signal is transmitted to the emergency information output means so as to generate a predetermined warning sound or warning message if the abnormal state continues for a predetermined time In the point.
[0007]
In the third feature configuration, in addition to the first or second feature configuration, the sensor unit faces the front of the bather, as described in claim 3 in the column of the claims. It is in the point installed in the inner wall surface of the bathtub.
[0008]
The fourth feature configuration is based on the determination result of the abnormality determination means in addition to the first, second or third feature configuration, as described in claim 4 of the column of claims. It is in the point provided with the forced drainage means which drains the hot water in the bathtub forcibly.
[0009]
The fifth feature configuration includes a release means for releasing the forced drainage state of the forced drainage means in addition to the fourth feature configuration, as described in claim 5 in the column of the claims. In the point.
[0010]
The operation and effect will be described below.
According to the 1st characteristic structure of this invention, since the sensor part is first installed under the surface of the water in a bathtub, the movement of the bather under the surface of the water in the bathtub can be detected. This means that the limbs in the water have some movement even when the bather is relatively stationary and the shoulders and head above the water surface are stationary. Since there are many cases, it is possible to accurately detect whether the bather is truly stationary when the movement below the water surface can be detected rather than the movement of the bather above the water surface. It is possible to detect abnormalities of bathers well.
In addition, the reason for accurately detecting the movement of limbs in the water from outside the bathtub is because the ultrasonic waves and electromagnetic waves (including light and infrared rays) emitted from the sensor installed outside the bathtub are reflected on the water surface. It is extremely difficult.
Furthermore, moving object detection means because not using an ultrasonic signal, underwater in the bathtub, i.e. be placed in water, it is of the bather movement and the presence of the water can be accurately detected. That is, although ultrasonic waves propagate in water without much attenuation, sensors using electromagnetic waves (including light and infrared rays) have a large attenuation of signals in water and are inappropriate for high-precision detection.
In this way, when the moving body detection means detects the presence of the bather in the bathtub and the resting state, the abnormality determination means determines the abnormality of the bather based on the detection result, and the emergency information output means based on the determination result. By outputting emergency information, a third party such as a living person who has received the emergency information can rescue the bather at an early stage.
Furthermore, since the moving object detection means measures the distance to the object facing the sensor unit or the amount equivalent to the distance, the distance from the installation position of the sensor unit to the inner wall of the facing bathtub is known, so the measured distance or distance equivalent If the amount is shorter than the known distance, it can be determined that the bather is present in the bathtub.
Here, the distance to the object is obtained from a reflection time from when the sensor unit transmits an ultrasonic signal to receiving a reflected signal reflected by the object and a propagation constant in water. Means a physical quantity capable of uniquely deriving the distance such as the reflection time. Hereinafter, the distance equivalent amount is omitted as the same meaning as the distance.
Further, when the distance measured by the moving body detection means as being shorter than the predetermined value is changing with time, it can be determined that the bather is moving. In this case, the abnormality determination means determines that the bather is not abnormal, that is, that the bather is not stationary as a result of drowning in the bathtub. On the other hand, if the distance measured by the moving object detection means as being shorter than the predetermined value does not change for a certain period of time even though it is determined that the bather is present in the bathtub, the bather may become stationary due to some abnormality. The abnormality determination unit determines that the state is in the state, and outputs an abnormality detection signal to the emergency information output unit. As a result, the emergency information output means can receive the abnormality detection signal and output emergency information to notify a third party that some abnormality has occurred in the bathtub. .
[0011]
Here, since the above-described effects are exhibited by determining the abnormality of the bather by the cooperation of the moving body detection means and the abnormality determination means, these may be configured integrally or separately. It does not matter. Further, a moving body detecting the presence and movement of the bather based on a physical quantity such as a distance to the bather who can detect the presence and movement of the bather, for example, a sensor unit of the moving body detection means The signal processing unit of the detection means may be configured integrally or may be separated, and the signal processing unit and the abnormality determination unit may be configured integrally. In short, it is only necessary that at least the sensor part of the moving body detection means and the abnormality determination means is installed under the water surface in the bathtub.
[0012]
According to the second feature configuration, when the abnormality determination means first determines that the bather is abnormal, it enters “warning mode” that generates a warning sound or a warning message, and the state continues for a predetermined time. In this case, since the “alarm mode” in which an alarm signal is transmitted to the emergency information output means is entered, the operational effects of the first characteristic configuration can be reliably achieved.
[0013]
According to the third characteristic configuration, since the sensor part does not face the bather's back, the movement of the limbs in the bather's bathtub can be accurately detected, and the bather is mistakenly stationary. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the emergency information from being output, and as a result, it is possible to improve the practicality of the device of the present application.
[0014]
According to the fourth characteristic configuration, until the third party who has received the emergency information output by the emergency information output means rescues the bather, the bather has nose and mouth in the hot water of the bathtub. It is possible to prevent being left unattended for a long time in a non-breathable state. In other words, because the hot water in the bathtub is forcibly drained, the water level is lowered, the bather's nose and mouth are released from the submerged state, and return to a breathable state before being rescued by a third party. It is expected that the possibility of resuscitation by the rescue of a third party will be dramatically improved.
In addition, when a third party rescues a bather, it is usually difficult to rescue the bather as it is outside the bathtub, so it is necessary to drain the hot water in the bathtub. According to this, the labor can be saved, so that the bather can be rescued more quickly.
[0015]
According to the fifth feature configuration, when a third party who has come to the rescue, such as a bather or a living person, needs to stop forced drainage, the forced drainage can be released. For example, when a bather notices that the bather is taking a nap while taking a bath and forced drainage of hot water in the bathtub starts, the hot water is completely drained. The drainage can be stopped before.
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An embodiment of an abnormality detection apparatus during bathing (hereinafter referred to as the present invention apparatus) according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0017]
As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the apparatus of the present invention includes a moving body detection means 3 capable of detecting the movement and presence of a bather 2 in a bathtub 1, and the bather based on the detection result of the moving body detection means 3. 2, an emergency information output unit 5 that outputs emergency information based on the determination result of the abnormality determination unit 4, and the inside of the bathtub 1 based on the determination result of the abnormality determination unit 4 Forcible drainage means 6 for forcibly draining hot water is provided.
[0018]
The moving body detecting means 3 radiates an ultrasonic signal into the bathtub 1 at a constant sampling interval, and receives a reflected signal from an object such as the bather 2 in the bathtub 1 or an inner wall surface of the bathtub 1. A sensor unit 3a that receives and measures the distance to the target object from the round-trip time of the ultrasonic signal to the target object and a propagation constant in water, and a distance signal D that includes distance information measured by the sensor part 3a. Is received from the sensor unit 3a, and the signal processing unit 3b detects the presence and movement of the bather 2.
The sampling interval is set to 5 seconds. Moreover, the said sensor part 3a and the said signal processing part 3b are isolate | separated and comprised separately, and the said sensor part 3a is the 1st inside of the said bathtub 1 which faces the said bather's 2 front (chest side). It is installed on the wall surface 1 a so as to be located below the water surface 7. The first inner wall surface 1 a is located on the foot side of the bather 2 when the bather 2 bathes with the legs extended along the longitudinal direction of the bathtub 1. Generally, an inner wall surface of the inner wall surface of the bathtub 1 that locks one end of a chain connected to a drain plug or a bathtub with a hot water supply function is provided with a hot water outlet. At least the sensor unit 3a is attached to the wall surface. This is because usually a bather cannot lean against such an inner wall.
[0019]
The signal processing unit 3b receives the distance signal D at each sampling interval, and the distance L to the object indicated by the distance signal D is the second inner wall surface of the bathtub 1 facing the sensor unit 3a. If it is within the allowable error range (Lb ± 5%) with respect to the distance Lb up to 1b, it is determined that the bather 2 in the bathtub 1 does not exist, and this state is maintained for a certain time (in this embodiment). It is set to 60 seconds.) If it continues, it will enter "non-bathing mode". In the “non-bathing mode”, when the distance signal D is received and the distance Lb is shorter than the allowable error range (Lb−5%), the bather 2 in the bathtub 1 It is determined that it exists, and the “bath mode” is entered. Further, in the “bath mode”, the signal processing unit 3b determines that the bather 2 is moving when the distance signal D has changed more than a certain allowable error from the previous sampling value, and vice versa. In addition, when the change is not more than the permissible error, it is determined that the bather 2 is stationary in the bathtub 1 and a stationary detection signal S is transmitted.
The sampling interval may be fixed regardless of the mode, but the setting may be lengthened in the “non-bathing mode” to suppress power consumption.
[0020]
By the way, the purpose of use of the distance information measured by the sensor unit 3a is not to measure the exact distance to the object, but only to be able to determine whether the object is moving or stationary. The distance information may be an average distance to the object or a shortest distance. In addition, the distance information may not be an absolute value representing an actual distance, but may be the round trip time or a relative value.
[0021]
The abnormality determination means 4 receives the stationary detection signal S from the signal processing unit 3b in the “bathing mode”, and enters the “warning mode” when the reception state continues for 10 seconds (for two sampling intervals). After entering the “warning mode”, if the receiving state of the stationary detection signal S continues for 10 seconds (20 seconds in total), the “warning mode” is entered and the warning signal W is transmitted.
When entering the “warning mode”, the abnormality determination unit 4 generates a predetermined warning sound or warning message in the bathroom, and prompts the bather 2 to move the body. Here, if the bather 2 is normal, the “warning mode” is canceled and the “warning mode” is not entered by listening to the warning sound or warning message and moving the body. Here, once the “warning mode” is entered, the “warning mode” may be canceled by a predetermined release operation such as pressing the release button, without being released by moving the body.
[0022]
It is more convenient in terms of signal processing that the signal processing unit 3b and the abnormality determination means 4 are configured in the same electronic circuit. For example, when the distance signal D has not changed more than the allowable error from the previous sampling value, a predetermined counter is counted up at each sampling interval, and when the distance signal D has changed more than the allowable error, the counter is reset. In this configuration, when the stationary detection signal S is the counter output of the counter, the abnormality determination unit 4 enters the “warning mode” when the counter value becomes “2”, and subsequently continues to “4”. If “”, the “alarm mode” may be entered.
In the present embodiment, the signal processing unit 3b and the abnormality determination unit 4 are integrally formed as a determination unit 8 and separated from the sensor unit 3a. Moreover, this judgment part 8 becomes a structure which can be attached to a bathroom wall surface etc.
[0023]
In the “warning mode”, if there is any abnormality in the bather 2, even if the warning sound or the warning message is heard, the release operation such as moving the body is not performed. The emergency information output unit 5 receives the warning signal W transmitted from the abnormality determination unit 4.
[0024]
When the emergency information output means 5 enters the “alarm mode” and receives the alarm signal W, it generates an alarm sound or an alarm message from a predetermined output device 9 such as a speaker. The output device 9 is installed in a room or hallway where a third party such as a living person outside the bathroom is present. Here, when the installation location of the output device 9 is far from the bathroom, the emergency information output means 5 and the output device 9 may be connected via a wired or wireless communication means. . For example, the output device 9 may be a portable device such as a mobile phone terminal. When the bather 2 is a single person, the output device 9 is installed in an external organization such as a security company or a hospital and connected to the emergency information output means 5 through a telephone line or the like. The alarm sound or warning message may be reported to an external organization.
[0025]
The forced drain means 6 receives the alarm signal W from the abnormality determination means 4 via a wired or wireless communication means, and drains forcibly discharges hot water in the bathtub 1 to the outside of the bathtub 1. It is comprised from the part 6b, and has a structure which can be attached to the wall surface of the bathtub 1.
Upon receiving the warning signal W, the drainage unit 6b operates a motor pump to pump up hot water in the bathtub 1 and drain it out of the bathtub 1 such as a washing place. The power source of the drainage unit 6b may be a predetermined built-in battery or a power supply from a commercial power source. In addition, the drainage capacity of the drainage part 6b is set so that the nose and mouth that have submerged within 4 minutes at the latest will be released because the resuscitation rate of a patient who is about to die is reduced to 50% or less after 4 minutes as described above. Must. For this reason, the said motor pump uses what can drain the hot water of the said bathtub 1 from a full water state to a half water storage state in 4 minutes at the latest. For example, when the full capacity of the bathtub 1 is 280 liters, the drainage capacity of the motor pump is desirably 35 liters / minute or more. This value is an example, and the drainage capacity of the motor pump is appropriately changed in consideration of the full water capacity and shape of the bathtub 1.
[0026]
By the way, the forced drainage means 6 has the warning sound or “warning mode” in the “warning mode” because, for example, the bather 2 is asleep, although there is no abnormality in the bather 2. When the warning message is not heard and “alarm mode” is entered and forced drainage of the hot water in the bathtub 1 is started, a release means is provided that allows the bather 2 or rescuer to cancel the forced drainage. Specifically, a release button 6c for forcibly stopping the operation of the drainage portion 6b is provided at a position where the bather 2 of the forced drainage means 6 can easily operate.
[0027]
Another embodiment will be described below.
<1> In the above-described embodiment, the sensor unit 3a and the determination unit 8 are separated from each other. However, the sensor unit 3a and the determination unit 8 may be integrally configured to be installed in water.
Further, the warning sound or warning message in the “warning mode” is configured to be generated by the abnormality determination means 4. However, the emergency information output means 5 is installed in a bathroom, and the emergency information output means 5 May be generated.
[0028]
<2> The timing of entering the “warning mode” or “alarm mode”, and other timings and setting of the allowable error range are not limited to the above embodiment, and can be changed as appropriate.
The “warning mode” is not necessarily provided, and the “warning mode” may be directly entered.
[0029]
<3> The forced drainage means 6 may not necessarily be configured to pump hot water with the motor pump. For example, the water stop of the drain of the bathtub 1 is controlled by a solenoid valve, and when the forced drain means 6 receives the warning signal W, the solenoid valve is operated to open the drain. It doesn't matter. Moreover, you may provide in the said bathtub 1 the drain outlet only for forced drainage which provided the solenoid valve. Further, when the forced draining means 6 receives the alarm signal W, a means for mechanically pulling out the drain plug with a wire or the like may be provided.
[0030]
<4> In “warning mode” or “alarm mode”, instead of generating the warning sound or warning message, or the warning sound or warning message, using other output means such as flashing light or vibration, A warning or alarm may be given.
[0031]
<5> In the above embodiment, the device of the present invention has been shown in a form that can be attached later to an existing bathtub. However, when a bathtub is newly installed, a bathtub in which the device of the present invention is built in is used. It doesn't matter.
[0032]
<6> Release means for releasing the forced release state of the forced drain means 6 may not necessarily be provided in the forced drain means 6.
For example, the abnormality determination unit 4 is provided with a release button or the like for forcibly canceling the “alarm mode”, and the transmission of the alarm signal W is stopped simultaneously with the cancellation of the “alarm mode”. You may comprise so that the said forced drainage may be stopped simultaneously with the stop of reception of the warning signal W.
[0033]
<7> In the above embodiment, the device of the present invention is configured to include the forced drainage means 6, but the forced drainage means 6 may not necessarily be provided.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing a configuration of an abnormality detection device during bathing according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an installation state of the abnormality detection device during bathing according to the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Bathtub 1a 1st inner wall surface 1b 2nd inner wall surface 2 Bathing person 3 Moving body detection means 3a Sensor part 3b Signal processing part 4 Abnormality judgment means 5 Emergency information output means 6 Forced drainage means 6a Receiving part 6b Drainage part 6c Release button 7 Water surface 8 Judgment part 9 Output device D Distance signal S Stillness detection signal W Alarm signal

Claims (5)

A moving body detection means capable of detecting the movement and presence of a bather in the bathtub;
An abnormality determination unit that determines an abnormality of the bather based on a detection result of the moving body detection unit;
Emergency information output means for outputting emergency information based on the determination result of the abnormality determination means,
The moving object detection means includes a sensor unit that is capable of transmitting an ultrasonic signal to an object facing and receives an ultrasonic signal reflected by the object, below the water surface in the bathtub, and up to the object. The distance or distance equivalent is measured, the presence of the bather in the bathtub is detected by the distance or distance equivalent being shorter than a predetermined value, and the distance or distance equivalent is changing with time. Detecting the movement of the bather in the bathtub by
The abnormality determination means is a case where the moving body detection means detects the presence of the bather in the bathtub and does not detect the movement of the bather, and when the state continues for a predetermined time, An abnormality detection device during bathing that determines that the person is abnormal and outputs an abnormality detection signal to the emergency information output means . The abnormality determination means first generates a predetermined warning sound or warning message when it is determined that the bather is abnormal, and when the abnormal state continues for a predetermined time, a predetermined warning sound or warning The abnormality detection device during bathing according to claim 1, wherein an alarm signal is transmitted to the emergency information output means so as to generate a message.   The abnormality detection device during bathing according to claim 1, wherein the sensor unit is installed on an inner wall surface of the bathtub facing the front of the bather.   The abnormality detection device during bathing according to claim 1, 2 or 3, further comprising forced drainage means for forcibly draining hot water in the bathtub based on a determination result of the abnormality determination means.   The abnormality detection device during bathing according to claim 4, further comprising release means for releasing the forced drainage state of the forced drainage means.

Images