JP3830890B2 - Bathroom monitoring device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a bathroom monitoring device that issues an alarm outside a bathroom when a bather's abnormality is detected.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In order to detect abnormalities of bathers in the bathroom, there is known an apparatus that provides a human body sensor for detecting a human body by image processing or infrared detection and monitors the movement of a bather in the bathroom. A conventional bathroom monitoring device monitors the inside of a bathroom with a human body sensor, and if there is no movement of the bather for a certain period of time, it is determined that the bather is sleeping or falls down, and an alarm is first given by the bathroom remote control. Attention is given by sound or voice, and when there is no movement of the bather for a predetermined time, a warning is given to the householder by an alarm sound or voice using a kitchen remote control (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-150447 (page 3, FIG. 1)
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the bathroom monitoring device disclosed in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 is that when a warning is issued from a kitchen remote controller, a householder is not likely to notice the alarm, and there is no way to deal with it when the alarm is not noticed. There is a bug.
[0005]
In view of such a background, an object of the present invention is to provide a bathroom monitoring device that can reliably notify the outside of a bathroom when the bather is not in a normal state.
[0014]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
To achieve the previous SL object, bathroom monitoring equipment of the invention, detects that a sensor for detecting the physical activity status of bathers, the physical activity status of a bather is in an abnormal state An alarm means for issuing an alarm outside the bathroom, and a bathroom monitoring device for detecting that the bather is in a normal state after the alarm or canceling the alarm when the alarm canceling means is operated. In addition to the alarm means provided in the above, the switch is inserted between an electrical device that outputs sound or emits a driving sound and the power source of the electrical device, and connects / disconnects the electrical device and the power source, and an alarm An alarm control means is provided for separating the electric device and the power source by the switch when a second time has passed without the alarm being released after the alarm is started by the means.
[0015]
According to the present invention, all electric devices such as a television, a stereo, and a ventilation fan that emit sound and driving sound in a house are connected to a commercial power supply via a switch. Then, the alarm control means turns off the switch connected to the commercial power supply when a second time such as 10 seconds elapses without the alarm being released after the alarm is started. At this time, since the noise such as the TV sound and the operation sound of the ventilation fan disappears, the alarm becomes easy to hear. The volume and type of alarm may be changed with time. In this case, the householder becomes more aware of the alarm.
[0023]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
(First Embodiment) A first embodiment related to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a bathroom monitoring apparatus according to the first embodiment. Referring to FIG. 1, a bathroom monitoring device 1 includes a control unit 2, a motion sensor 3 connected to the control unit 2 through signal lines, a bathroom unit 4, and three outside units 5a, 5b, 5c. And a security unit 6.
[0024]
As will be described later, the control unit 2 performs processing for issuing an alarm inside and outside the bathroom when the bathroom is monitored and an abnormality is detected. The motion sensor 3 corresponds to the sensor of the present invention, and includes, for example, an imaging device that uses a CCD camera, an artificial retina LSI, or the like and detects a bather's motion by taking a difference between two images at different times. It is disposed on the upper wall surface of the bathroom. In addition, you may make it detect a bather's movement with an infrared sensor or the weight sensor installed in the floor of the bathroom.
[0025]
The bathroom unit 4 includes a speaker 7 that outputs an alarm when an abnormality is detected. The units 5a, 5b, and 5c outside the bathroom include the function of the alarm means of the present invention, speakers 8a to 8c for outputting warning sounds (voice announcements and buzzer sounds) as alarms, and displays for displaying the alarms, respectively. Lamps 9a to 9c and an alarm release switch (not shown) are provided as alarm release means of the present invention. The units 5a, 5b, and 5c outside the bathroom are disposed on appropriate wall surfaces of the kitchen, the living room, and the bedroom, respectively.
[0026]
As shown in FIG. 2, the security unit 6 is connected to a network 10 of a communication carrier such as NTT and a lock management means 12 using an auto-lock mechanism or the like that can lock the door 11. Further, the security unit 6 is provided with a lock control means 13 for sending an instruction signal to the lock management means 12, an automatic call means 14, and a message storage means 15. The line network 10 is connected to a monitoring system 16 of a security company that has a contract with the user regarding home security and a terminal 17 of a fire department.
[0027]
As shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 2 includes an I / O unit 21, a storage device 22, and a control device 23. The storage device 22 includes a ROM, a RAM, an EEPROM, and the like, and includes a main storage unit 24 and an audio storage unit 25. The main storage unit 24 stores various data, programs necessary for processing performed by the control device 23 described later, and the like. The voice storage unit 25 stores voice or music notified outside the bathroom.
[0028]
The control device 23 is configured by a microprocessor or the like, and functionally includes a voice registration unit 26, an abnormality detection control unit 27, and an alarm control unit 28. The voice registration unit 26 registers voice or music notified outside the bathroom as an alarm in the voice storage unit 25. The abnormality detection control unit 27 determines whether or not the bather's movement has stopped based on the output data of the motion sensor 3. Then, when it is determined that the bather's movement has stopped, timing of a predetermined time T1 (for example, 10 minutes) is started, and abnormality is detected when the counting of the predetermined time T1 is completed.
[0029]
The alarm control unit 28 corresponds to the alarm control means of the present invention, and when the abnormality detection control unit 27 detects an abnormality, issues a safety confirmation alarm from the speaker 7 of the bathroom unit 4 into the bathroom, and then the unit outside the bathroom. 5a, 5b, 5c The speaker 8a-8c and the display lamps 9a-9c perform the process for alerting | reporting a house alert alarm (equivalent to the alarm of this invention) out of the bathroom. The alarm control unit 28 is configured to (1) increase the volume of the sound output from the speakers 8a to 8c, and (2) the display lamp 9a to The process of shortening the blinking cycle of 9c, (3) the process of changing the audio content of the in-house alarm, and (4) the process of controlling the operation sequence of the units 5a, 5b, 5c outside the bathroom.
[0030]
Next, a specific operation of the bathroom monitoring device 1 according to the first embodiment will be described. Under the control of the voice registration unit 26 of the control unit 2, the voice or music notified outside the bathroom as an in-house notification alarm is registered in the voice storage unit 25 by the user.
[0031]
When the bather enters the bathroom, the motion sensor 3 starts an operation of detecting the bather's movement. When the motion sensor 3 starts operating, it continues to output data indicating changes in the two images captured within a predetermined period to the control unit 2.
[0032]
The abnormality detection control unit 27 of the control device 23 determines whether or not the bather's movement has stopped based on the output data of the motion sensor 3. And when a bather's movement stops, the time measurement of predetermined time T1 (for example, 10 minutes) is started. When the bather moves during the timing, the motion sensor 3 detects the bather's movement, and the timing of the predetermined time T1 is canceled. On the other hand, if the bather does not move, an abnormality is detected after a predetermined time T1 after the bather stops moving, and the alarm control unit 28 outputs a safety confirmation alarm from the speaker 7 of the bathroom unit 4. Do. When the bather's movement remains stopped, after repeating a safety confirmation alarm by voice announcement such as “Please move” for a predetermined number of times (for example, three times), the alarm control unit 28 Processing for controlling the units 5a, 5b, and 5c is performed.
[0033]
First, an in-house alarm (hereinafter simply referred to as an alarm) is emitted from the speaker 8a of the outside bathroom unit 5a provided in the kitchen, and the display lamp 8 blinks. The alarm is initially set to the user's favorite music registered in the voice storage unit 25. Alternatively, for example, a voice announcement “Please go to see the bathroom” may be set.
[0034]
The alarm control unit 28 gradually increases the volume of the music (or voice announcement) output from the speaker 8a until, for example, 30 seconds elapse after the alarm is output. When the volume of the music (or voice announcement) reaches the upper limit value, the warning control unit 28 changes the voice content of the warning to a buzzer sound and halves the cycle of the display lamp 9a flashing, for example.
[0035]
If the housekeeper notices an alarm while the alarm is being issued from the outside bathroom unit 5a arranged in the kitchen, the housekeeper operates the alarm release switch of the outside bathroom unit 5a to release the alarm and go to the bathroom. You can check the safety of bathers. On the other hand, when the alarm release switch of the unit 5a outside the bathroom is not operated and the unit 5a outside the bathroom notifies the alarm for one minute, for example, an alarm is emitted from the speaker 8b of the unit 5b outside the bathroom and displayed. The lamp 9b flashes. The unit 5b outside the bathroom operates in the same manner as the unit 5a outside the bathroom disposed in the kitchen under the control of the alarm control unit 28. And when the alarm release switch of the unit 5b outside the bathroom is not operated and when the unit 5b outside the bathroom reports the alarm for one minute, for example, an alarm is emitted from the speaker 8c of the unit 5c outside the bathroom, The display lamp 9c blinks. The unit 5c outside the bathroom operates in the same manner as the unit 5a outside the bathroom disposed in the kitchen under the control of the alarm control unit 28. In addition, instead of increasing the number of units outside the bathroom that issue an alarm with time as described above, the unit outside the bathroom that issues an alarm with time may be switched to change the location where the alarm is issued. Good.
[0036]
Then, a predetermined time (for example, 3 minutes) has elapsed since the start of the alarm without detecting the bather's movement (normal state) and without operating the alarm release switch of the units 5a, 5b, 5c outside the bathroom. When this occurs, the alarm control unit 28 supplies a control signal to the security unit 6. The automatic calling unit 14 of the security unit 6 transmits the message stored in the message storage unit 15 to the monitoring system 16 of the security company via the network 10 based on the control signal from the alarm control unit 28. The person in charge of the security company that received the report goes directly to the user's house. If the monitoring system 16 notifies the fire station terminal 17 via the network 10 as necessary, the ambulance will rush to the user's house.
[0037]
Further, the lock control means 13 of the security unit 6 supplies a control signal to the lock monitoring means 12 after a predetermined time ( for example, 3 minutes) has elapsed since the message was transmitted to the monitoring system 16 of the security company. The lock management means 12 unlocks the house door 11 according to the supplied control signal. Therefore, the outside person who rushed to the rescue can respond quickly.
[0038]
According to this embodiment, since the volume of the alarm gradually increases, a householder can easily notice the alarm. In addition, the housekeeper is not suddenly surprised by the loud buzzer. In addition, the display lamps 9a to 9c blink relatively slowly at the beginning of the alarm, and gradually blink earlier as time elapses, so that the householder can easily notice the change in the blinking method. Further, since the user can set his / her desired voice and music as an alarm, it is easy to notice when such an alarm is notified. Furthermore, since the units 5a to 5c outside the bathroom are arranged in different places, it is possible to notify an alarm wherever a householder is in the house. In addition, although the number of units outside a bathroom was demonstrated as three, it is not limited to this. Moreover, although the display lamps 9a to 9c are assumed to blink, the display light amount may be configured to increase as time passes.
[0039]
In addition, according to the present embodiment, since the security company is automatically called and a relief message is transmitted, even if the bather is not in a normal state, even if the housekeeper is away from the bathroom, Can be surely notified.
[0040]
In this embodiment, it is assumed that the security company is notified as an emergency call destination, but a call is made to a predetermined contact such as a neighbor, a householder's mobile phone, a householder's office, etc., so that a relief message is transmitted. It may be configured.
[0041]
In addition, you may make it provide the time detection means which detects the time when the bathing person was detected by the abnormality detection control part 27 of the control unit 2 in an abnormal state. In this case, according to the time detected by the time detection means, if the time is daytime, the alarm is started from the kitchen as in the above embodiment, and the alarm is started in the order of the living room and the bedroom. Further, if the time detected by the time detection means is nighttime, the alarm is issued in order from the room where there is a possibility that a house is present, such as starting an alarm from the bedroom. Therefore, it becomes possible to quickly notify the family member of the bather's abnormality.
[0042]
(Second Embodiment) The bathroom unit 4 of the first embodiment is provided with a microphone having a hands-free function so that the sound in the bathroom can be heard from the speakers 8a to 8c of the units 5a to 5c outside the bathroom. May be. In this case, the alarm control unit 28 controls to output a voice announcement or music from the speakers 8a to 8c at the beginning of the alarm, and after a predetermined time ( for example, 3 minutes) has elapsed from the start of the alarm, Is changed, and the sound in the bathroom at the time of the change is output from the speakers 8a to 8c. Therefore, it is possible to draw the attention of the householder when the content of the alarm is changed. Moreover, you may make it easier for a householder to notice abnormalities by alternately repeating the voice announcement (or music) and the operation of outputting the sound in the bathroom from the speakers 8a to 8c.
[0043]
(Third Embodiment) The bathroom monitoring device 30 (corresponding to the bathroom monitoring device of the present invention ) of the third embodiment is a switch box in addition to the configuration of the first embodiment as shown in FIG. 31 (corresponding to the switch of the present invention) is provided. Then, the power cords of the electric devices such as the indoor television 32, the stereo 33, and the ventilation fan 34 are connected to the commercial power source 35 via the switch box 31, and the switch box 31 is turned on / off by the alarm control unit 28 of the control unit 2. Can be controlled. In this case, the alarm control unit 28 starts the alarm and turns off the switch box 31 after a predetermined time (second time of the present invention: for example, 10 seconds) has elapsed. At this time, since the electric devices such as the television 32, the stereo 33, and the ventilation fan 34 are separated from the commercial power source 35 and stop operating, the alarm sound is notified without being erased by the noise caused by the electric devices described above. Becomes easy to notice the alarm.
[0044]
The bathroom unit 4 of the first embodiment may be provided with a transmitter and a receiver having a hands-free function so that a telephone call can be made with a predetermined external contact from inside the bathroom. In this case, the alarm control unit 28 outputs a voice announcement or music from the speakers 8a to 8c for a predetermined time ( for example, 3 minutes). And if a family member does not notice this, it will be in the state in which a bather can talk with the operator of a security company, for example by automatic call control. Therefore, if the bather is in a state where his body cannot move but can speak, he can ask the security company for help directly.
[0045]
Moreover, in the bathroom monitoring apparatus of the said 1st-4th embodiment, you may make it provide the timer which time-measures the time passed since the alarm was started in the units 5a-5c outside a bathroom. Moreover, you may make it output the time which the timer measured from the speakers 8a-8c for every predetermined time with an audio | voice. In this case, a householder who noticed the alarm or a neighbor who rushed to can know the exact time since the alarm was issued, and can take appropriate measures. Moreover, you may make it alert | report by measuring the elapsed time after the abnormality detection control part 27 detected abnormality. In this case, it is possible to know the time since the bather fell asleep or fell down.
[0046]
Moreover, the bathroom monitoring apparatus of the present invention includes a sound sensor that detects a bather's voice, a physical sensor that detects a bather's movement in a bathtub, a vital sensor that detects a health condition, and the like, instead of the motion sensor. You may comprise.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a bathroom monitoring apparatus according to a first embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a security unit.
FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a control unit.
FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a bathroom monitoring apparatus according to a third embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Bathroom monitoring apparatus, 2 ... Control unit, 3 ... Motion sensor, 5a, 5b, 5c ... Outside bathroom unit, 6 ... Security system, 8a, 8b, 8c ... Speaker , 9a, 9b, 9c ... indicator lamps, 21 ... I / O unit, 22 ... storage device, 23 ... control device, 24 ... main storage unit, 25 ... audio storage unit , 26 ... voice registration unit, 27 ... abnormality detection control unit, 28 ... alarm control unit.

Claims (1)

A sensor for detecting the physical activity state of the bather and an alarm means for issuing an alarm outside the bathroom when it is detected that the physical activity state of the bather is abnormal. A bathroom monitoring device that detects a normal state or cancels an alarm when an alarm canceling means is operated,
In addition to the alarm means provided indoors, the switch is inserted between an electrical device that outputs sound or emits a driving sound and a power source of the electrical device, and connects / disconnects the electrical device and the power source,
A bathroom monitor characterized by comprising an alarm control means for separating the electric device from a power source by the switch when a second time has elapsed since the alarm was not canceled after the alarm means started the alarm. apparatus.

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