JP3902431B2 - bathroom - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a bathroom having a human body detection device that has an imaging device and issues a warning to another person at a remote location when an abnormality occurs due to detection of movement of a human body.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 15, the human body detection device is provided with a region dividing unit that divides an image obtained by imaging a bathroom into a plurality of regions, and this region dividing unit provides a bathtub region A, an entrance region C, and a wash area B. The movement of the bather was detected in approximately three equal parts. On the other hand, the form of the bathroom is not uniform, and the position of the entrance to and from the bathroom is generally in three forms: the front, the right side, and the left side as seen from the bathtub side. There are also various sizes of bathtubs. In addition, there are various locations for showers and counters.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in a bathroom having a human body detection device as described above, a counter, a shower device, etc. are particularly located on both sides of the washroom, and the amount of image data in the washroom area increases, so it takes time to process the image. However, there is a problem that human body detection becomes unstable. In addition, simply narrowing the detection area of the washing place has a bad influence due to the size of the bathtub, for example, the washing place enters the shadow of the bathtub and it is difficult to smoothly detect the movement. There is also a problem that it is difficult to detect depending on the position of the bathroom door.
[0004]
In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a bathroom that can stably detect the movement of a human body.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problems, the bathroom of the present invention includes a bathroom having a bathtub, a washroom, and an entrance, a human body detection sensor that captures and processes the bathroom, and the captured images in a plurality of regions. The area dividing means for dividing, the movement amount calculating means for calculating the amount of movement for each divided area , and the area dividing means are divided into a bathtub area, an entrance area, and an intermediate area sandwiched between the bathtub and the entrance area, A first feature is that a wash area is provided in the intermediate area, and an invalid area that does not perform image processing is provided in the intermediate area and outside the wash area.
According to this first feature, by not providing the entire wash area divided into three as processing targets, and by providing an area around the wash area where image detection processing is not performed, the wall surface of the bathroom, Image data such as showers and counters are excluded from processing targets. That is, by providing an invalid area where image processing is not performed, in other words, a detection blank area, it is possible to speed up image detection and processing, stabilize detection, and prevent erroneous detection.
[0006]
The bathroom of the present invention includes a bath having a bathtub, a washroom, and an entrance, a human body detection sensor that images the bathroom and performs image processing, and an area dividing unit that divides the captured image into a plurality of areas. The movement amount calculating means for calculating the amount of movement for each divided area , and the area dividing means are divided into a bathtub area, an entrance area, and an intermediate area sandwiched between the bathtub and the entrance area. A second area is provided with a changing area for providing a field area, providing an ineffective area in the intermediate area and not processing the image outside the washing area, and moving the washing area within the intermediate area. It is a feature.
According to the second feature, in addition to the above feature, by providing a changing means for moving the washing area within the intermediate area, the direction of the entrance of the bathroom, the size of the bathroom, the size of the bathtub, the bathroom ceiling It is possible to select an optimal region for capturing and processing an image according to the height of the image, and to select a wash floor surface position that is most necessary for the image capturing process and that matches the actual state of the site.
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an electric circuit showing an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of an image core circuit constituting one pixel of the image detection unit of the human body detection sensor.
[0009]
FIG. 1 shows an outline of an embodiment of the present invention, and a bathtub 2 and a washroom 3 are provided inside a bathroom 1. 4 is an entrance to the bathroom 1. Reference numeral 5 denotes a human body detection device which is attached to the upper part of the inner wall surface of the bathroom 1.
Specifically, it is attached to the upper position of the bathroom wall surface in contact with the longitudinal direction of the bathtub 2. Connected to the hot water device 40 are a bath remote controller 60 installed in the bathroom for operating the hot water device 40 from a remote location and a kitchen remote controller 70 installed in the kitchen. A lighting device 71 such as an electric lamp is attached to the wall or ceiling of the bathroom 1.
And although the human body detection apparatus 5 is attached to the wall surface of the bathroom 1 in this embodiment, you may attach to the ceiling surface of the bathroom 1 not only in this example.
The human body detection device 5 includes an imaging device incorporating an artificial retina chip, and a human body detection sensor 51 that images and processes the movement of the human body in the bathroom 1 and an infrared sensor 52 that detects a human body by thermal detection using infrared rays. Consists of.
[0010]
A bath remote controller 60 for remotely operating the hot water device 40 is installed in the bathroom 1, and a kitchen remote controller 70 for remotely operating the hot water device 40 is installed in the kitchen.
Here, the hot water device 40 is a device for heating water such as hot water in the bathtub, and specifically includes a bath with a hot water heater, a heater with a hot water heater, a hot water heater, a hot water heater, and the like. Yes.
The hot water apparatus may be one that uses not only gas as fuel but also petroleum.
Regarding the connection between the hot water device 40, the remote controllers 60 and 70, and the human body detecting device 5, in the one shown in FIG. 1, first, the hot water device 40 and the kitchen remote controller 70 are connected by the cable 41, and the hot water device 40 and the bath remote controller are connected. 60 is connected by a cable 41, and the hot water device 40 and the human body detection device 5 are connected by a cable 41. A branch connector 43 is provided at the end of the cable 41. One of the human body detecting devices 5 is connected to one end of the cable 41, and an exit remote controller having a switch 80 operated when leaving the room is connected to the other end.
The remote controls 60 and 70 for controlling the water heater and the like have a display unit such as a liquid crystal display panel for notifying that there is a bather in the bathroom 1, and the human body detection device 5 detects the bather. When the detection signal is output, the display unit may display lighting or the like.
The display unit is not limited to the above, and if there is no movement of the bather for a certain period of time, it is assumed that the user is sleeping or falls down in the bathtub. If the response is not within a predetermined time, the kitchen remote controller 70 may alert the other person such as a family by an alarm sound or voice.
[0011]
And the heat exchanger and the burner are incorporated in the inside of the hot water apparatus 40, and the various sensors for control are provided.
A hot water drop-in pipe 46 is connected to the bathtub 2 from the hot water device 40. In addition, power for operating the human body detection device 5 is introduced from a power plug 47 of the hot water device 40, and is stepped down and supplied through a transformer (not shown) of the controller 42 of the hot water device 40.
[0012]
FIG. 2 shows a specific configuration of the human body detection device 5, which includes a human body detection sensor 51 using an artificial retina chip and an infrared sensor 52.
The human body detection sensor 51 includes an imaging device 6 that images a bathroom region, and a control device 7 that controls the imaging device 6 and determines processing information.
The control device 7 and the external remote controllers 60 and 70 are configured to transmit and receive by a communication unit 53 such as a communication IC described later.
In addition to the human body detection sensor 51, an infrared sensor 52 is provided in the same case body, the control device 7 is shared, and mutual compensation for monitoring when the bathroom 1 is dark is performed.
[0013]
The image pickup unit 8 of the image pickup apparatus 6 includes an image detection unit 9 having 128 vertical pixels × 128 horizontal pixels, an imaging lens 10, a scanner 11, a multiplexer 12, and a scanner drive control unit 13. Each pixel of the image detection unit 9 is expressed by 256 monochrome gradations “256 gradations of level 0 (black) to 255 (white)”. Detection processing may be performed by using some pixels (32 pixels × 32 pixels) of the image detection unit 9.
[0014]
In the imaging unit 8, the image in the bathroom is imaged on the image detection unit 9 by the imaging lens 10. The scanner 11 is driven and controlled by a scanner drive control unit 13, and the scanner drive control unit 13 controls each pixel column of the image detection unit 9 so as to sequentially enter a light receiving state (on state) at regular intervals. .
The photocurrents simultaneously output from the pixels in one column in the light receiving state are combined into a single electric signal as a plurality of electric signals by the multiplexer 12, amplified by the amplifier 14, and then output as an analog voltage. Conversion from analog data to digital data is performed by the control device 7.
[0015]
Each pixel of the image detection unit 9 is constituted by a pixel core circuit 17 as shown in FIG. The pixel core circuit 17 includes a light receiving element 18, a charge storage circuit 19, and a sensitivity variable circuit 20. A sensitivity variable terminal 21 and a reset terminal 22 are connected to the scanner 11, and a photocurrent output terminal 23 is connected to the multiplexer 12. ing.
[0016]
In FIG. 2, the gain adjustment unit 16 checks the image average value (image brightness) in the image output unit 15, and adjusts the gain of the imaging device 6 by the amplifier 14 if the image average value is out of an appropriate range. At the same time, the accumulation time of the image detection unit 9 is adjusted by the scanner drive control unit 13, and the light is adjusted so that an image with appropriate brightness is obtained.
[0017]
In the imaging device 6 using the artificial retina chip, the average gradation value of the image is a gradation (256 gradations from 0 gradation (black) to 255 gradations (white)) in all pixels constituting the image detection unit 9. The average value is represented by a value of 0-255.
This average image value is determined by the gain of the amplifier 14 and the image accumulation time of the image detector 9.
Here, the gain corresponds to the aperture of the camera, and the image accumulation time corresponds to the shutter speed of the camera. Therefore, in order to obtain an appropriate image gradation average value of the imaging device 6, it is only necessary to fix the gain to an appropriate gain and adjust the image accumulation time. Alternatively, an appropriate image accumulation time may be fixed and the gain adjusted.
[0018]
In FIG. 2, at least the image detection unit 9 that performs imaging, the scanner 11, the scanner driving unit 13, and the gain adjustment unit 16 are configured by one chip. This chip is called an artificial retina chip.
Further, a control device 7 is provided on the substrate at the back surface position of the chip, and the control device 7 is composed of a microcomputer, and a detection region for performing detection processing by the human body detection sensor 51 is provided in a plurality of regions. The area dividing means 24 and the like for dividing the area into software are incorporated as software.
[0019]
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the point table 25 for processing the image information input to the control device 7 is divided into three areas: an entrance area 26, an intermediate area 27, and a bathtub area 28. Is. Here, the entrance area 26 refers to an area located in the bathroom and in the vicinity of the entrance door to the bathroom in the case of a bathroom. The bathtub area | region 28 refers to the area | region where the bathtub is located. The intermediate region 27 refers to a region sandwiched between the entrance region 26 and the bathtub region 28, and mainly refers to the region of the wash floor where the head and body are washed.
[0020]
FIG. 7 shows the relationship between the intermediate area 27 and the washing area 29, and the washing area 29 is provided in the intermediate area 27. The range of the wash area 29 is narrower than the range of the intermediate area 27. An invalid area 30 in which no image processing is performed is provided in the intermediate area 27 and outside the washing area 29. This invalid area 30 is a blank part of the detection process, and the image data located in this invalid area 30 is not used for the calculation of the human body detection sensor. In the invalid area 30, mainly the wall surface of the bathroom, the shower, the counter, etc. are located, and pay attention to the fact that they are not particularly relevant to the detection of the movement of the human body, so that the image data of this part is not processed. . Thereby, the RAM capacity for processing image information can be reduced.
The wash area 29 located in the intermediate area can be changed in the intermediate area 27 described above. For example, when the entrance is in front as viewed from the bathtub area 28 as shown in FIG. 11 and the bathtub size is large, the wash area 29 is compared to the standard pattern of FIG. However, it is only necessary to move it slightly toward the entrance region 26 side. Thereby, it can prevent that the detection range of the washing area 29 based on the shape of a bathtub shrinks. Further, when the entrance is in front as viewed from the bathtub area 28 as shown in FIG. 12 and the bathtub size is small, the washing area 29 is compared with the standard pattern of FIG. It may be arranged so as to be slightly shifted toward the bathtub region 26 side. Thereby, the bathtub area | region 28 and the wash area 29 can be caught continuously.
Further, as shown in FIG. 13, when the shower, counter, etc. are on the right side when viewed from the bathtub area 28, the bathtub size is standard, compared to the standard pattern of FIG. The wash area 29 may be shifted to the left side. As a result, the invalid area 30 can be enlarged, the number of image data processes can be reduced, and the detection can be speeded up.
Further, as shown in FIG. 14, when the shower, counter, etc. are on the left side when viewed from the bathtub area 28, the bathtub size is standard, compared to the standard pattern of FIG. The wash area 29 may be shifted to the right side. As a result, the invalid area 30 can be enlarged, the number of image data processes can be reduced, and the detection can be speeded up.
In this way, the above-described installation patterns may be stored in the control device 7 or the pattern storage means 75 such as an EEPROM at the time of shipment from the factory. At the time of installation at the site, the pattern corresponding to the bathroom at the site is selected via the changing means 76 by switching the dip switch 77 provided on the device side. This change may be performed by switching with a setting switch provided on the bath remote controller.
[0021]
The imaging lens 10, the imaging device 6, and the control device 7 constituting the human body detection sensor 51 are housed in one case together with the infrared sensor 52 and attached to a wall surface or the like as a human body sensor set. The attachment position may be set so that the entire bathroom 1 including the entrance 4 to the bathroom is within the viewing angle as a monitoring area.
[0022]
Then, the detection output of the imaging device 6 and the detection output of the infrared sensor 52 are respectively input to the determination unit 32. Based on the output from the imaging device 6 and the output from the infrared sensor, the determination means 32 comprehensively determines the presence / absence of a bather in the bathroom and the movement of the bather.
[0023]
The image detected by the artificial retina is subjected to image processing as follows.
The control device 7 for controlling and processing the image receives image information from all the pixels constituting the image detection unit 9 at predetermined time intervals, and receives the image information at predetermined time intervals, processes the image information, and determines means. 32, the movement of the bather is determined.
[0024]
Next, an image processing method for extracting a human motion from an image captured by the imaging device 6 will be described.
When receiving image information every predetermined time, the control device 7 constituted by a microcomputer analyzes the bather's movement from the image information according to a predetermined analysis algorithm, and monitors the bather's movement.
[0025]
Specifically, it is assumed that the image (bright image) P of the square object has moved from the position P1 to the position P2 as shown in FIG. At this time, if a bright pixel is represented by a symbol B and a dark pixel is represented by a symbol D, the previous image is represented by FIG. 9B, and the current image is represented by FIG. 9C. The before and after images are temporarily stored by the image storage means in the control device 7. Images captured continuously are sequentially updated so that the latest images are always stored. Then, the two images are compared for each divided region by the motion amount calculating means 81 for calculating the amount of motion provided in the control device 7, and the previous image for each pixel (x, y) of each region. Difference (movement amount) between the received light amount Pp (x, y) of p and the received light amount Pn (x, y) of the current image n
D (x, y) = Pn (x, y) -Pp (x, y)
And the calculation result can be obtained as a difference image as shown in FIG.
[0026]
In the difference image of FIG. 10, a pixel with a positive difference D (x, y) is represented by a + symbol, a negative pixel is represented by a-symbol, and a pixel with D (x, y) being zero is represented by a 0 symbol. Yes. By capturing the sum of the differences between the respective pixels, it can be determined for each region whether or not there is a motion, and this determination is performed by the motion determination means 82 provided in the control device 7. If there is no motion amount, it is determined that there is no motion, and if there is a motion amount, it is determined that there is motion.
[0027]
Next, determination of whether or not a person has entered the bathroom 1 will be described.
In FIG. 5, when a person begins to enter the bathroom 1, the infrared sensor 52 in a standby state first detects a human body and is turned on (step S1), and when the human body detection sensor 51 detects a person in the washroom (step S3). ), It is determined that the room has been entered (step S4).
[0028]
In this entrance determination, since human body detection by the human body detection sensor 51 requires time for imaging and calculation of the amount of motion, or when the bathroom 1 is dark, the monitoring sensitivity is low, so the infrared sensor 52 is used together. After the detection by the sensor 52, the human body detection sensor 51 detects the person together, thereby compensating for the weak point of the human body detection sensor 51 and ensuring the entrance into the room.
[0029]
Further, when the infrared sensor 52 is turned off even when leaving the bathroom 1 (in the case of no in step S5), and the human body detection sensor 51 does not detect the amount of movement (in the case of no in step S6). ) Is determined to have left the bathroom 1 on condition that the exit switch 80 is turned on (step S7).
[0030]
And even if the human body detection sensor 51 does not detect a person in the wash basin 3 (in the case of no in step S3), if the person is detected in the bathtub 2 (step S8), the infrared sensor 52 and the human body detection sensor 51 are both When a person is detected (steps S9 and S10), it is determined that the person has entered the room (step S4).
[0031]
Next, when the entrance to the bathroom is determined as described above, the human body stop detection flow is entered, and the monitoring device is imaged at predetermined time intervals by the imaging device 6 as described above, and the previous image and the current image are captured. Is temporarily stored in the control device 7. Next, the motion amount calculation means 81 programmed in the control device 7 calculates the difference (motion amount) between the light reception amount of the previous image and the light reception amount of the current image for each pixel in each region.
These pieces of information are sent to the determination unit 32 of the control device 7 to determine whether or not the human body has stopped moving.
[0032]
In addition, embodiment mentioned above shows suitable embodiment of this invention, This invention is not limited to this, Various design changes are possible within the range.
For example, although the system bathroom has been described in the present embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this example, and can be installed in other existing bathrooms.
[0033]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the present invention does not use the entire wash area divided into three parts as a processing target, and provides an area in which the image detection process is not performed around the wash area. Therefore, image data such as a counter can be excluded from processing targets, processing can be speeded up, detection can be stabilized, and erroneous detection can be prevented.
Further, the present invention provides a changing means for moving the washing area within the intermediate area, so that an image can be taken according to the direction of the entrance of the bathroom, the size of the bathroom, the size of the bathtub, the height of the bathroom ceiling, and the like. It is possible to select an optimum region for processing, and it is possible to select a wash floor surface position that is most necessary for imaging processing and that matches the actual situation of the site.
Furthermore, according to the present invention, it is possible to stabilize the human body detection in the apparatus provided with the motion determination means for calculating the motion amount and determining the presence or absence of the motion of the human body, and to measure the motion amount quickly.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an electric circuit showing an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of an image core circuit constituting one pixel of the image detection unit of the human body detection sensor.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a detection range of a sensor.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is an overhead view of the bathroom as seen from the human body detection sensor.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of divided areas.
FIG. 8 is a control block diagram of one embodiment of the present invention.
9A is a diagram showing a current image and a previous image of an object moved downward in the right direction, FIG. 9B is a diagram showing brightness and darkness of the previous image for each pixel, and FIG. It is a figure which shows the contrast of an image for every pixel.
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a difference image showing a change in brightness at a pixel corresponding to the boundary of the image.
FIG. 11 is a pattern diagram of divided areas.
FIG. 12 is a pattern diagram of divided areas.
FIG. 13 is a pattern diagram of divided areas.
FIG. 14 is a pattern diagram of divided areas.
FIG. 15 shows a conventional example.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Bathroom 2 Bath 3 Washing room 4 Entrance / exit 5 Human body sensor 6 Imaging device 7 Control apparatus 9 Image detection part 15 Image output part 17 Image core circuit 24 Area division means 26 Entrance area 27 Intermediate area 28 Bath area 29 Wash area 40 Hot water equipment 41 Cable 42 Controller 47 Power plug 51 Human body detection sensor 52 Infrared sensor 60 Bath remote controller 70 Kitchen remote controller 75 Pattern storage means 76 Change means 81 Motion amount calculation means 82 Motion determination means

Claims (2)

A bathroom having a bathtub, a washroom, and an entrance / exit, a human body detection sensor that images the bathroom and performs image processing, an area dividing unit that divides the captured image into a plurality of areas, and a movement for each divided area The movement amount calculating means for calculating the amount is divided into a bath area, an entrance area, and an intermediate area sandwiched between the bathtub and the entrance area by the area dividing means, a wash area is provided in the intermediate area, and an intermediate area A bathroom characterized in that an invalid area that does not process images is provided outside the washing area in the area. A bathroom having a bathtub, a washroom, and an entrance / exit, a human body detection sensor that images the bathroom and performs image processing, an area dividing unit that divides the captured image into a plurality of areas, and a movement for each divided area The movement amount calculating means for calculating the amount is divided into a bathtub area, an entrance area, and an intermediate area sandwiched between the bathtub and the entrance area by the area dividing means, and a wash area is provided in the intermediate area. An invalid area in which no image processing is performed is provided outside the washing area, and a changing means for moving the washing area within the intermediate area is provided.

Images