JP3943519B2 - Bathing method monitoring system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a monitoring system for a bathing method for promoting energy saving in bathing.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, there has been a need for energy saving in households that suppress so-called energy consumption such as electricity and fuel gas. And as an approach for energy saving, it is based on the approach from the equipment side which improves the energy efficiency in electric equipment and gas equipment, and change of the usage mode of equipment, such as setting the heating preset temperature of a heater low, for example An approach from the user side can be considered.
[0003]
As a method for supporting the energy saving approach from the user side, a system has been proposed in which the usage amount and usage fee of fuel gas, electricity, etc. in each household are displayed on a meter (Patent Document 1). ). According to such a system, the user can check the display of the meter and grasp the energy usage status, so that the user's awareness of energy saving can be increased.
[0004]
However, since the usage modes of gas equipment and electrical equipment vary greatly depending on the type of equipment, a system that can support energy saving approaches from the user side is desired according to the usage mode of each equipment.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-8-129677 [0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
An object of the present invention is to provide a system that solves the above inconvenience and supports an approach from the user side to energy saving during bathing.
[0015]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention has been made to achieve the above object, and a first aspect of the present invention includes an entry detection means for detecting a person entering the bathroom, and a predetermined amount of hot water in a bathtub installed in the bathroom. A hot water filling means for performing hot water filling operation, a display means, and a time counting for measuring an elapsed time from when the hot water filling operation is completed until a person entering the bathroom is detected by the entry detecting means. And display control means for displaying the elapsed time on the display means.
[0016]
According to the present invention, the display control means displays on the display means the elapsed time from the end of the filling operation until the detection of a person entering the bathroom. As a result, the user who has confirmed the display on the display means can raise awareness about the elapsed time from the end of the hot water operation until the bathing, and the elapsed time becomes longer. It is possible to encourage bathing before the degree of temperature drop of hot water in the bathtub increases. In this case, it is possible to suppress energy consumption due to reheating or hot water in order to increase the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub during bathing.
[0017]
In addition, the second aspect of the present invention provides an entry detecting means for detecting a person entering the bathroom, and the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub until the predetermined time has passed through the hot water in the bathtub provided in the bathroom. A chasing means for performing a chasing operation for heating until reaching a predetermined chasing temperature, a display means, and a person entering the bathroom by the entrance detecting means after the chasing operation by the chasing means is completed. And a display control means for displaying the elapsed time on the display means.
[0018]
According to the present invention, the display control means displays the elapsed time from the end of the chasing operation until the detection of a person entering the bathroom on the display means. And thereby, the user who confirmed the display of the display means can raise awareness about the elapsed time from the end of the chasing operation until bathing, and the elapsed time becomes longer. It is possible to encourage bathing before the degree of temperature drop of hot water in the bathtub increases. In this case, it is possible to suppress energy consumption due to reheating or hot water in order to increase the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub during bathing.
[0019]
Further, in the first aspect and the second aspect , when the elapsed time exceeds a predetermined time, the display control means displays a message that prompts the user to take a bath by shortening the elapsed time. It is characterized by displaying on a means.
[0020]
According to the present invention, when the elapsed time from the end of the hot water operation or the chasing operation until the start of bathing exceeds the predetermined time, the message is displayed, It is possible to directly prompt the user who confirmed the message to shorten the elapsed time.
[0021]
In addition, the third aspect of the present invention includes an entrance / exit detection means for detecting an entrance of a bather into the bathroom and an exit of the bather from the bathroom, and a temperature of hot water in a bathtub installed in the bathroom. The bath temperature detection means, the display means, and the entrance / exit detection means detect the entrance of the person entering the bathroom, and the entrance / exit detection means detects the exit of the bather from the bathroom. Until a plurality of bathing units are grasped, the temperature of hot water in the bath in each bathing unit is detected by the bathroom temperature detecting means, and the display is performed in time series. Display control means for displaying on the means.
[0022]
According to the present invention, by displaying the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub in a plurality of bathing units in time series on the display unit, the user who has confirmed the display unit can take a bath in each bathing unit. It is possible to provide a material for recognizing the user's favorite hot water temperature and considering the bathing order of each bather. And as a result of the examination, for example, the bather who has the same temperature of the favorite hot water successively takes a bath, so that the frequency of replenishing the hot water in the bathroom and watering can be reduced. It saves energy and water used for watering.
[0023]
Further, in the third aspect , in a continuous bathing unit, when the temperature of hot water in the bath in the preceding bathing unit is lower than the temperature of hot water in the bath in the next bathing unit, A message that prompts the user to start from a bathing unit having a high temperature of hot water is displayed on the display means.
[0024]
According to the present invention, it is possible to prompt the user who has confirmed the message to start from the bathing unit in which the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub is high. And when it goes ahead from the bathing unit where the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub is high in this way, the hot water in the bath naturally decreases with the passage of time, this is the bathtub in the bathing unit performed later Since it is the same tendency as the temperature of the hot water inside, the possibility of reheating and hot water in the bathing unit performed later is reduced, and energy consumption associated with the reheating and hot water can be saved. it can.
[0029]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a bathing method monitoring system according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of the bathing method monitoring system shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a display example of the display shown in FIG.
[0030]
Referring to FIG. 1, a bathroom 2 of a house 1 includes a bathtub 3, a human body sensor 4 for detecting a bather in the bathroom 2 (corresponding to the entry / exit detection means and the entry detection means of the present invention), and a water heater 5. A bath remote controller 6, a shower 7, and a currant 8 are provided.
[0031]
The water heater 5 is communicably connected to the data center 21 via the network 20, and the personal computer 30 in the house 1 is communicably connected to the WEB server 22 via the network 20.
[0032]
The water heater 5 heats a heat exchanger (not shown) with a gas burner (not shown) and heats water flowing through the heat exchanger to generate hot water. The entire operation is controlled by a water heater controller 40 which is a configured electronic unit. The hot water heater 5 is set with the hot water supply operation for supplying hot water at the hot water temperature set by the bath remote controller 6 from the shower 7 and the currant 8, and hot water at the hot water temperature set by the bath remote controller 6 is set by the bath remote controller 6. The hot water filling operation for supplying the hot water filling to the bathtub 3 by the amount of hot water filling and the hot water operation for heating the hot water in the bathtub 3 to the hot water temperature set by the bath remote controller 6 are executed.
[0033]
Next, referring to FIG. 2, the water heater controller 40 includes a human body sensor 4, a bath remote controller 6, and a water supply amount sensor 50 that detects the amount of hot water supplied to the bathroom 2 (in the water supply amount detection means of the present invention). And a bathtub temperature sensor 51 (corresponding to the bathtub temperature detecting means of the present invention) that detects the temperature of hot water in the bathtub 3 so as to be communicable with each other.
[0034]
The hot water supply controller 40 is provided in the hot water supply control means 41 for executing the hot water supply operation, the hot water control means 42 for executing the hot water operation, the reheating control means 43 for executing the reheating operation, and the water heater 5. Gas consumption amount grasping means 44 (corresponding to the energy consumption amount grasping means of the present invention) for grasping the amount of fuel gas consumed by the burner according to the combustion amount of the burner, and time keeping means for performing various timekeeping processes 45 and monitor data collection means 46 for collecting various monitor data relating to bathing and transmitting the collected data to the data center 21 via the network 20.
[0035]
The monitor data collecting means 46 monitors the presence or absence of a bather entering the bathroom 2 by the human body sensor 4, and detects the bather entering the bathroom 2 by the human body sensor 4. The time until leaving is detected is grasped as one bathing unit. Then, the monitor data collecting means 46 grasps the amount of fuel gas used in each bath unit by the gas use amount grasping means 44, and the gas use amount data (Gd [1, 2,... N], n in each bath unit) Number of bathing units).
[0036]
Further, the monitor data collecting means 46 detects the water usage amount in each bathing unit by the water supply amount sensor 50 and generates water usage data (Wd [1, 2,... N]) in each bathing unit. Moreover, the monitor data collection means 46 detects the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub 3 in each bathing unit by the bath temperature sensor 51 and generates bath temperature data (Bd [1,2, ..., n]) in each bathing unit. To do.
[0037]
Furthermore, the monitor data collecting means 46 includes an elapsed time from when the hot water filling operation by the hot water filling control means 42 is completed until the human body sensor 4 detects a bather entering the bathroom 2, and a follow-up control means 43. Timekeeping means 45 measures the elapsed time from the end of the chasing operation until the detection of the bather entering the bathroom 2 by the human body sensor and the time interval between successive bathing units. (Td [1,2, ..., n]) is generated.
[0038]
And the monitor data collection means 46 is gas usage data (Gd [1, 2,... N]), water usage data (Wd [1, 2,... N]), bath temperature data ( Bd [1,2, ..., n]), timing data (Td [1,2, ..., n]), and operating condition data (Rd [1,2, ...] of the water heater 5 set by the bath remote controller 6). n]) is collected, and these data (hereinafter referred to as bathing monitor data) are transmitted to the data center 21 via the network 20.
[0039]
In the data center 21, bathing monitor data in units of one day transmitted from the water heater controller 40 of the water heater 5 installed in each household is stored in the database 25.
[0040]
Further, the WEB server 22 acquires the bathing monitor data of the home stored in the database 25 of the data center 21 when there is an access requesting “monitor display of bathing method” from the personal computer 30 of the home. Then, the amount conversion means 26 performs a process for converting the amount of gas used and the amount of water used to convert the amount of money, and generates image data for monitoring the bathing method of the home on the day specified in the request of “monitoring display of bathing method”. Then, the image data is transmitted to the personal computer 30 via the network 20.
[0041]
FIG. 3 is an example of a monitor display screen of the bathing method displayed on the display 31 of the personal computer 30 using the image data. In FIG. 3, t ₁ is the start time of the filling operation, t ₂ is the end time of the filling operation, t ₃ is the start time of the first bathing unit, t ₄ is the end time of the first bathing unit, and t _5. shows start time of the second round of the bathing unit, t ₆ is the end time of the second round of the bathing unit, respectively.
[0042]
W ₁ is the amount of water used and its fee for hot water operation, W ₂ is the amount of water used and the fee for the first bathing unit, and W ₃ is the amount of water used and the fee for the second bathing unit. Yes. G ₁ indicates the gas consumption and its charge in the operation with hot water, G ₂ indicates the gas use and its charge in the first bathing unit, and G ₂ indicates the gas use and its charge in the _second bathing unit, respectively. ing. Further, T ₁ is hot water filling temperature in water filling operation, T ₂ is reheating temperature in the first bathing units, T ₃ is a reheating temperature in the second bath unit.
[0043]
Thus, by displaying the bathing method in each home on the monitor, it is possible to make the resident in each home who has viewed the monitor display recognize the problem of the bathing method in each bathing unit.
[0044]
Problems with the bathing method include excessive use of hot water (which can be confirmed from the amount of water used and gas consumption), the elapsed time (t _w ) from the end time (t ₂ ) of the hot water operation to the start time (t ₃ ) of bathing ) Is long, and the time interval (t _i ) between bathing units is long.
[0045]
Further, the WEB server 22 analyzes the bathing monitor data, points out problems in the bathing method, and transmits image data displaying a message for prompting improvement of the problems to the personal computer 30. Thus, the WEB server 22 directly instructs the viewer on the improvement measures for the bathing method to promote energy saving in bathing.
[0046]
Here, as a message for prompting the improvement of the problem, the WEB server 22 is, for example, a reference time (for example, 20 minutes, the present invention) in which an elapsed time (t _w ) from the end of the hot water operation to the start of bathing is set. Message, “It takes a long time to prepare a bath after taking a bath. If you slow down the bath preparation, you will save on gas charges.” The image data for displaying is transmitted.
[0047]
Further, when the interval (t _i ) between bathing units is longer than a preset reference time (for example, 20 minutes, which corresponds to the predetermined time of the present invention), “Let's continue bathing.” The image data that displays the message is transmitted.
[0048]
Moreover, in the monitor display of FIG. 3, the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub 3 in the first bathing unit (41 ° C. in FIG. 3) is the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub 3 in the second bathing unit (in FIG. 3). 43 ° C.). In this case, the bather in the first bathing unit likes to soak in lukewarm water, so water is poured into the bathtub 3 to lower the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub 3, and the bather in the second bathing unit is It is thought that the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub 3 was raised by chasing and hot water because he likes to use hot water.
[0049]
On the other hand, if the bather's order is changed so that the bather who likes hot water bathes first, there is no need to carry out reheating or hot water in the first bathing unit. And since the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub 3 naturally decreases with the passage of time from the first bathing unit to the second bathing unit, the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub 3 is lowered in the second bathing unit. Requires less water. Therefore, both gas usage and water usage can be saved.
[0050]
Therefore, the WEB server 22 is a continuous bathing unit, and when the temperature of hot water in the bathtub 3 in the bathing unit performed earlier is lower than the temperature of hot water in the bath 3 in the bathing unit performed later, The image data for displaying the message “If you enter the hot bath first, you can save gas consumption” is sent to the PC 30.
[0051]
In this embodiment, in the monitor display of the bathing method, the amount of water used and its fee, the amount of gas used and its fee, the elapsed time from the end of the hot water operation to the start of bathing, from the end of the chasing operation Although the elapsed time until the start of bathing, the bath temperature, and the time interval between bathing units are displayed, the effect of the present invention can be obtained by displaying at least one of these.
[0052]
In the present embodiment, the water charge and the gas charge are displayed in the monitor display of the bathing method, but the effect of the present invention can be obtained even when these are not displayed.
[0053]
Further, in this embodiment, in the monitor display of the bathing method, a message indicating the problem of the bathing method is pointed out and a message for promoting the improvement is displayed. it can.
[0054]
In the present embodiment, the bathing monitor data is stored and processed by the data center 21 and the WEB server 22. However, the hot water heater 5 and the personal computer 30 are directly connected so as to be communicable, and the bathing monitor data is obtained by the personal computer 30. May be stored and processed. Further, when the bath remote controller 6 is provided with a display, the bath monitor data is stored and processed by the water heater controller 40 or the bath remote controller 6, and a bathing method monitor screen is displayed on the display of the bath remote controller 6. It may be.
[0055]
In the present embodiment, the human body sensor 4 (including an image sensor and an infrared detector) that directly detects a bather is used as the entrance / exit detection means and the entrance detection means of the present invention. The presence or absence of hot water is detected by a sensor for detecting the opening / closing of the door of the water and the water supply amount sensor 50, so that the bather's entrance into the bathroom 2 and the exit of the bather's bathroom 2 are detected indirectly. It may be.
[0056]
In the present embodiment, a water heater using gas as an energy source is shown. However, the present invention can also be applied when a water heater using electricity or oil as an energy source is used.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a monitor system for a bathing method of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of a monitoring system of the bathing method shown in FIG.
3 is a display example of the display shown in FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
2 ... Bathroom, 3 ... Bathtub, 4 ... Human sensor, 5 ... Hot water heater, 6 ... Bathroom remote control, 21 ... Data center, 22 ... WEB server

Claims (5)

An entry detection means for detecting a person entering the bathroom, a filling means for performing a filling operation for supplying a predetermined amount of hot water to a bathtub installed in the bathroom, a display means,
A time measuring means for measuring an elapsed time from the end of the hot water filling operation until a person entering the bathroom is detected by the entrance detecting means;
And a display control means for displaying the elapsed time on the display means. An entrance detection means for detecting a person entering the bathroom, and a hot water in the bathtub provided in the bathroom are heated until a predetermined time elapses or until the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub reaches a predetermined reheating temperature. Tracking means for carrying out the driving, display means,
Time measuring means for measuring an elapsed time from the end of the chasing operation by the chasing means until a person entering the bathroom is detected by the entrance detecting means;
And a display control means for displaying the elapsed time on the display means. It said display control means, when the elapsed time exceeds a predetermined time, according to claim 1 or claim the message prompting the user to bathe by shortening the elapsed time, and displaying on said display means 3. The bath system monitoring system according to 2. Entrance / exit detection means for detecting the entrance of the bather into the bathroom and the exit of the bather from the bathroom, bathtub temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of hot water in the bathtub installed in the bathroom, and display means When,
A unit of bathing is defined as a single bathing unit from when the entrance / exit detection means detects the entrance of a person entering the bathroom until the entrance / exit detection means detects the exit of the bather from the bathroom. A display control means for detecting the temperature of hot water in the bath in each bath unit by the bathroom temperature detecting means when the bathing unit is grasped, and displaying the time series in the display means; A monitoring system for bathing methods. In the consecutive bathing units, the display control means is configured such that when the temperature of hot water in the bath in the preceding bathing unit is lower than the temperature of hot water in the bath in the next bathing unit, 5. The bathing method monitoring system according to claim 4 , wherein a message prompting to start from a bathing unit having a high temperature is displayed on the display means.

Images