JP4888291B2 - Toilet seat device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to abnormality detection of a heat generating part of a toilet seat device.

  Conventionally, in this type of toilet seat device and sanitary washing device, a triac that turns on and off the power supplied to the toilet seat heater so that the user can sit on the toilet seat without feeling uncomfortable even when the temperature is low such as in winter. And a zero cross detection circuit for detecting a zero point of the AC voltage, and a heater control means for controlling the triac by the output of the zero cross detection circuit to drive the toilet seat heater.

In the above configuration, the toilet seat heater generates heat when a voltage is applied from the power supply circuit. Then, the heat is transmitted to the toilet seat casing. Thereby, the temperature of the toilet seat casing rises and the user can comfortably sit on the toilet seat (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2006-320608 A

  By the way, in the conventional toilet seat apparatus as described above, when the triac fails, the power supply to the toilet seat heater cannot be cut off, and the toilet seat temperature may be excessively increased. Further, when the toilet seat heater is disconnected and the disconnected portion of the heater wire comes into contact with the metal portion of the toilet seat, a current may flow through the toilet seat and the user may feel uncomfortable or may be damaged.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a toilet seat device that detects the failure of a triac and the disconnection of a toilet seat heater and safely stops the function of the toilet seat device.

  In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, a toilet seat device according to the present invention includes a toilet seat, a temperature measurement unit that measures the temperature of the toilet seat, a heating unit, a heater driving unit that drives the heating unit, and driving of the heater driving unit. A heater drive detection unit for detecting a state; an AC voltage detection unit for detecting an AC voltage; and a control unit for controlling the heater drive unit. The control unit is configured to output from the heater drive detection unit and the output of the AC voltage detection unit. The abnormality of the heater driving unit and the disconnection of the heat generating unit are detected.

  Accordingly, when an abnormality occurs in the heat generating unit and the heater driving unit, the control unit detects the abnormality and appropriately controls the heat generating unit to ensure safety.

  The toilet seat device of the present invention can improve safety by detecting an abnormality related to the heat generating portion.

The first invention is a toilet seat having a seating surface containing a metal material, a temperature measuring unit for measuring the temperature of the toilet seat, a heat generating unit provided on the back side of the seating surface of the toilet seat, and driving the heat generating unit A heater driving unit, a heater driving detecting unit that detects a driving state of the heater driving unit, an AC voltage detecting unit that detects an AC voltage, and a control unit that controls the heater driving unit, When an abnormality occurs in the heat generating part and the heater driving part by detecting an abnormality of the heater driving part and a disconnection of the heat generating part from the output of the heater driving detecting part and the output of the AC voltage detecting part, the control part It is possible to detect the abnormality and appropriately control the heat generating portion, and it is possible to ensure the safety of the toilet seat device.

  In the second invention, in particular, in the first invention, when the abnormality is generated in the heat generating part and the heater driving part by providing the display part for performing the abnormality display by the output from the control part, the abnormality is notified by the display part. Therefore, the user can recognize the abnormality of the toilet seat device, and can improve safety and appropriately take measures such as inspection and repair and replacement of the toilet seat device.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the invention, there is provided a shut-off portion that shuts off both poles of the AC power supplied to the heat generating portion by the output of the control portion when detecting an abnormality in the heater driving portion and disconnection of the heat generating portion. By providing, when an abnormality occurs, the toilet seat does not rise to an abnormal temperature by shutting off the energization of the heat generating portion, and the user cannot be damaged. In addition, if both poles are cut off, the heat generating part is disconnected, and even if the disconnected part comes into contact with the metal part of the toilet seat and the insulation breaks down, the leakage to the metal part of the toilet seat is completely cut off to ensure safety can do.

  According to a fourth aspect of the invention, in particular, in the third aspect of the invention, an over-rise detection unit that detects an excessive increase in the toilet seat from the output of the temperature measurement unit is provided. By shutting off the shut-off unit without intervention, even if the heater drive unit fails and the control unit also fails, the energization to the heat-generating unit is shut off, so that safety can be further improved. Moreover, it is not necessary to provide a separate blocking unit for the excessive rise detection unit, and safety can be improved at low cost.

  5th invention is equipped with the insulation breakdown detection part which detects the insulation failure of a heat-emitting part especially in 3rd or 4th invention, and when the insulation breakdown detection part detects insulation failure, it is not a control part but a interruption | blocking part. Even if the heat generation part and the metal part of the toilet seat come into contact with each other due to disconnection of the heat generation part, etc., the power supply to the heat generation part is cut off, so safety is further improved. can do. Moreover, it is not necessary to provide a separate blocking unit for the excessive rise detection unit, and safety can be improved at low cost.

  According to a sixth aspect of the invention, in particular, in any one of the third to fifth aspects of the invention, the contact of the interrupting unit is configured to share the contact of the leakage breaker circuit that operates when the toilet seat device leaks. There is no need to provide a separate contact point, and safety can be improved at low cost.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
<1> Configuration of Toilet Seat Device FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the toilet seat device 100. The toilet seat device 100 includes a main body 200 and a toilet seat 400.

As shown in FIG. 1, the main body 200 drives a control unit 90 made of, for example, a microcomputer, a temperature measurement unit 401 that measures the temperature of the toilet seat, an excessive elevation detection unit 405 that detects excessive elevation of the toilet seat, and a toilet seat heater. The heater driving unit 402, the heater driving detecting unit 407 for detecting the state of the heater driving unit, the dielectric breakdown detecting unit 403 for detecting the dielectric breakdown of the toilet seat, the heater driving unit based on the detection signals of the overheating detecting unit 405 and the dielectric breakdown detecting unit 403 A shut-off unit composed of a shut-off circuit 406 for shutting off energization 402 and a relay having a double-cut contact 511, a display unit 514 for displaying settings and abnormalities, an operation unit 515 for a user to change settings of the toilet seat, etc., control Insulating DC power supply unit 408 that generates a DC voltage from an AC power supply, a zero-phase current transformer (hereinafter referred to as ZCT) that detects a leakage of the toilet seat device 409 and the leakage current detection circuit 510 that detects leakage according to the output of the ZCT, the leakage current cut-off circuit 512 that cuts off the energization to the heater drive unit 402 by the double-cut contact point 511 composed of a relay or the like, and the toilet seat heater of the double-cut contact point 511 An AC voltage detection circuit A513 for detecting an AC voltage arranged on the 450 side and an AC voltage detection circuit B514 arranged on the commercial power supply 404 side of the both-end contact 511 are included.

  The toilet seat 400 includes a toilet seat heater 450 and a thermistor 401a, which are heat generating units. The temperature measurement unit 401 converts the toilet seat temperature into a voltage based on the temperature signal output from the thermistor 401 a and inputs the voltage to the control unit 90.

  The control unit 90 inputs an energization rate switching signal to the heater drive unit 402 or displays the toilet seat set temperature on the display unit 515 in accordance with the preset and stored toilet seat set temperature and the input from the operation unit 516. Or The heater drive unit 402 controls the current supplied from the commercial power supply 404 in accordance with the energization rate switching signal to control the energization to the toilet seat heater 450.

  FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the toilet seat 400 part.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the toilet seat 400 has a structure in which a substantially horseshoe-shaped toilet seat heater 450 is attached to the inner surface side of a substantially elliptical upper toilet seat casing 410 formed mainly of aluminum, and a thermistor 401a is further attached. And a substantially elliptical lower toilet seat casing 420 formed of synthetic resin.

  3 is a view of the toilet seat heater 450 attached to the toilet seat casing 410 and viewed from the inside, FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA ′ of FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB ′. It is.

  Hereinafter, the front side viewed from the seated user is defined as the front portion of the toilet seat 400, and the rear side viewed from the seated user is defined as the rear of the toilet seat 400.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the toilet seat heater 450 is formed in a substantially horseshoe shape in which a part of the front portion is cut off. The toilet seat heater 450 may have a substantially oval shape. The toilet seat heater 450 has a configuration in which a linear heater 460 is sandwiched between metal foils 451 and 453 made of, for example, aluminum.

  The linear heater 460 is disposed in a meandering shape in accordance with the shape of the upper toilet seat casing 410. The interval between the linear heaters 460 is about 5 mm.

  The heater start end portion 460 a and the heater end portion 460 b of the linear heater 460 are respectively connected to lead wires 470 drawn from one side of the rear portion of the toilet seat 400.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of bent portions serving as thermal stress buffering portions are provided in the path of the meandering linear heater 460.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4, the upper toilet seat casing 410 is formed of, for example, an aluminum plate 413 having a thickness of 1 mm. A surface decorative layer 411 is formed on the upper surface of the aluminum plate 413. A coating film 414 is formed on the lower surface of the aluminum plate 413. The coating film 414 is, for example, a polyester powder coating film having a film thickness of 40 μm and heat resistance of 150 ° C., and can sufficiently secure an electrical withstand voltage performance of 1 minute or more at 1000 V, which is an electrical equipment technical standard.

  Instead of the aluminum plate 413, one or more of a copper plate, a stainless steel plate, an aluminum plated steel plate, and a zinc aluminum plated steel plate may be used.

A metal foil 45 made of, for example, aluminum is provided on the lower surface of the coating film 414 via an adhesive layer 452a.
1 is stuck. The film thickness of the metal foil 451 is, for example, 50 μm. The metal foil 451 is composed of a PET layer 495a 25 μm and an aluminum foil layer 451a 25 μm, and has a structure in which strength is increased by the PET layer 451a.

  The linear heater 460 includes a heating wire 463a having a circular cross section, an enamel layer 463b, and an insulating coating layer 462. The outer peripheral surface of the heating wire 463a having a circular cross section is sequentially covered with the enamel layer 463b and the insulating coating layer 462. The enamel wire 463 is constituted by the heating wire 463a and the enamel layer 463b.

  The heating wire 463a has a diameter of 0.16 to 0.25 mm, for example, and is made of copper or a copper alloy. In this example, a high tensile strength heater wire made of 4% Ag—Cu alloy having a diameter of 0.176 mm is used as the heating wire 463a. The resistance value is 0.833 Ω / m.

  The enamel layer 463b is made of, for example, polyesterimide (PEI) having heat resistance of 180 to 300 ° C. The film thickness of the enamel layer 463b is 20 μm or less, and is 12 to 13 μm in this example. Alternatively, polyimide (PI) or polyamideimide (PAI) may be used as the material for the enamel layer 463b.

  The insulating coating layer 462 is made of a fluororesin such as a perfluoroalkoxy mixture (hereinafter referred to as PFA) having heat resistance of 260 ° C., for example. The thickness of the insulating coating layer 462 is, for example, 0.1 to 0.15 mm. The insulating coating layer 462 made of PFA can be formed by extrusion. Note that polyimide (PI) or polyamideimide (PAI) may be used as the material of the insulating coating layer 462.

The outer diameter of the linear heater 460 is, for example, 0.46 to 0.50 mm. The power density of the linear heater 460 is, for example, 0.95 W / cm ² .

  The linear heater 460 is attached to the metal foil 451 so as to be covered with an adhesive layer 452b and a metal foil 453 made of, for example, aluminum. The film thickness of the metal foil 453 is, for example, 50 μm. The metal foil 453 includes a PET layer 495b of 25 μm and a 453a aluminum foil layer of 25 μm, and has a structure in which strength is increased by the PET layer 495b.

  In addition, by coating the entire circumference of the end surface to which the metal foil 453 and the metal foil 451 are attached with the coating material 490, the inner surface side of the toilet seat can cover the charging part with the PET layer 495b and the coating material, and the toilet seat has water inside. Even if a spills, the structure will not cause leakage.

  In FIG. 5, a connection terminal 477 is connected to the end of the dielectric breakdown detection lead 476 and is fixed between the metal foils 451 and 453. The connection terminal 477 is made of metal and is in contact with the aluminum layer 451 and is conductive.

<2> Configuration of Heater Drive Detection Unit and Abnormality Detection Method [2-1] Control Method of Toilet Seat Heater FIG. 6 shows a detailed configuration of each book in the schematic diagram showing a detailed circuit configuration of the toilet seat device 100 of FIG. ing. The heater driving unit 402 includes a triac, and the AC voltage detection circuit A513 outputs a signal synchronized with the zero cross of the AC voltage. When a control signal for the toilet seat heater 460 is output from the control unit 90, the toilet seat heater 460 is subjected to switching control via a triac, and an AC voltage 404 is applied. A triac is an element that keeps conduction until the next zero-cross point when a conduction signal is output.

FIG. 7 is a time chart of a triac control pulse and a toilet seat heater applied voltage waveform in the heating toilet seat control according to the embodiment of the present invention. The shaded portion is a portion to which a voltage in each control state is applied.

  The energization of the toilet seat heater 460 includes full-wave control in which an AC voltage is energized in all sections upon receiving a zero-cross signal, half-wave control in which energization is performed in a half-section, and phase control in which a part of the AC voltage is energized with a certain delay from the zero-cross signal. Three control methods are used.

  In full-wave control and half-wave control, when one gate pulse to the triac is output at the zero cross point of the AC voltage, the half-cycle voltage up to the next zero point is applied to the toilet seat heater 460. If no pulse is applied, no voltage is applied to the toilet seat heater 460.

  In the phase control, the gate pulse is output with a delay from the zero cross point, and a part of the AC voltage from the gate pulse output to the next zero point is applied. Here, if the pulse is output after the maximum value of the voltage, a low voltage is applied and the application time is shortened.

  Thus, full-wave control and half-wave control are control methods suitable for rapidly heating the toilet seat, and since phase control has a short voltage application time, the temperature of the toilet seat is near the target temperature, This is a control method suitable for maintaining a heat insulation state.

[2-2] Heater Drive Detection Unit Configuration FIG. 8 shows an output signal of the heater drive detection unit 407 in each control state of the toilet seat heater 450. The heater drive detection unit 407 is connected to both ends of the triac of the heater drive unit 402, converts the conduction state of the triac into a DC power supply signal, and outputs the signal to the control unit 90.

  The solid line portion in FIG. 8 is an output signal of the heater drive detection unit 407 in each control state of the toilet seat. The left side of each stage is a waveform when the triac and the toilet seat heater 460 are normal, the center is a waveform when the triac short-circuit failure and the toilet seat heater disconnection failure, and the right side is a waveform when the triac is open. As can be seen from the figure, abnormality detection is performed only when the waveform is clearly different from the normal state.

  Triac short circuit failure and toilet seat heater disconnection failure detection are performed when the toilet seat heater 460 is not energized and during phase control. During half-wave control, abnormal output is not detected because the normal output differs depending on whether the applied voltage is positive or negative.

  Triac open failure detection is performed during full-wave control. During half-wave control, abnormal output is not detected because the normal output differs depending on whether the applied voltage is positive or negative.

[2-3] Triac Short-Circuit Fault and Toilet Seat Heater Disconnection Fault Detection Method FIG. 9 shows details of a triac short-circuit fault and toilet seat heater disconnection fault detection method. The controller 90 inputs the output signal of the heater drive detector 407. When the level of the output signal of the heater drive detection unit 407 is detected after the lapse of T1, T2, and T3 from the zero cross signal, and the level detection values at the time of T1, T2, and T3 have been matched three times, the input for one half wave Set to a definite value. The level detection is performed a plurality of times at different timings in order to prevent erroneous determination when noise is periodically generated with respect to the AC voltage. By setting the values of T1, T2, and T3 to different values between 50 Hz and 60 Hz, in both cases, the transient state of the output signal of the heater drive detection unit 407 is avoided, and the level detection in a stable state is performed. It can be performed.

A set level is determined for two half-waves. Since the combination of HL or LH is continuous at the normal time, if there is a combination of LL or HH within a certain sampling time within a certain ratio, it is determined as abnormal. The determination is performed by a movement determination method in which the oldest determined value is discarded for each set. The determination cycle is every AC cycle.

  In the present embodiment, it is determined that there is an abnormality in the case of 42 sets of 70% out of 60 sets. In the case of 60 Hz, it takes 0.7 seconds (42 cycles) from the occurrence of abnormality to the determination of abnormality. In this way, it is possible to determine an abnormality fast and robust against noise.

  When the triac short circuit failure and the toilet seat heater disconnection failure are confirmed, the control unit 90 causes the display unit 515 to display a predetermined abnormality. In addition, the control unit 90 operates a blocking unit including the blocking circuit 406 and the double-cut contact 511 to block both poles of the AC power supplied to the toilet seat heater 460.

  When the triac is short-circuited, the energization of the toilet seat heater 460 does not stop and the temperature of the toilet seat rises excessively. Therefore, when used together with the excessive rise detection unit 405, the safety is further increased. Even when either one of the control unit 90 or the excessive rise detection unit 405 fails, the energization to the toilet seat heater 460 can be reliably stopped. Even if there is no failure, it can be stopped at the one where the abnormality is confirmed earlier. In addition, in order to prevent erroneous determination due to noise, it is possible to set the abnormality determination time in the control unit 90 to be sufficiently long, perform only abnormality display, and stop the toilet seat heater 460 in the over-rise detection unit 405.

  Similarly, when the toilet seat heater is disconnected, the cross section may contact the metal part of the toilet seat and the insulation may be broken. For this reason, when used in combination with the dielectric breakdown detector 403, the safety is further increased. Even when either one of the control unit 90 or the dielectric breakdown detection unit 403 fails, the energization to the toilet seat heater 460 can be reliably stopped. Even if there is no failure, it can be stopped at the one where the abnormality is confirmed earlier. In addition, in order to prevent erroneous determination due to noise, it is possible to set the abnormality determination time in the control unit 90 to be sufficiently long, perform only abnormality display, and stop the toilet seat heater 460 in the dielectric breakdown detection unit 403.

[2-4] Triac Open Fault Detection Method FIG. 10 shows details of the triac open fault detection method. The level detection method and level determination method of the output signal of the heater drive detection unit 407 are the same as the above-described triac short circuit failure and toilet seat heater disconnection failure detection methods.

  Since the level determination value for two half-waves is one set and the combination of LL is continuous at normal time, if there is a combination of HL or LH more than a certain ratio within a certain sampling time, it is determined as abnormal. The determination is performed by a movement determination method in which the oldest determined value is discarded for each set. The determination cycle is every AC cycle.

  In the present embodiment, it is determined that there is an abnormality in the case of 42 sets of 70% out of 60 sets. In the case of 60 Hz, it takes 0.7 seconds (42 cycles) from the occurrence of abnormality to the determination of abnormality.

  When the triac open failure is confirmed, the control unit 90 causes the display unit 514 to display a predetermined abnormality. In the case of a triac opening failure, the toilet seat heater 460 is not energized when it is to be energized, so the toilet seat does not warm, but there is no unsafety such as excessive rise of the toilet seat or dielectric breakdown. Therefore, the control unit 90 does not operate the cutoff circuit 406 and does not cut off both poles of the AC power supply. Only the specified abnormality is displayed. Therefore, the user can use functions other than the toilet seat such as washing.

<3> Configuration of Each Safety Circuit [3-1] Dielectric Breakdown Detection Circuit As shown in FIG. 6, the dielectric breakdown detection unit 403 is passed from an AC power supply 404 via a double-cut contact 511 and a zero-phase current transformer (ZCT) 409. The two electrodes are connected to the anode side of a rectifying diode 492 having a withstand voltage of about 600 V, and the cathode side of these diodes is connected via current limiting resistors 493a and 493b. The point is connected to the anode side of the LED of the Darlington type photocoupler 494. The cathode side of the LED is connected to a dielectric breakdown detection lead 476 of the toilet seat 400. By being connected via two rectifying diodes, current flows to the detection line 476 when the toilet seat insulation is broken from either side of the AC power supply 404. This is to ensure that the detection current always flows from one of the AC poles regardless of the portion of the heater wire 460 where the insulation is broken.

  When the insulation of the heater wire 460 of the toilet seat heater 450 is broken somewhere in the toilet seat heater 450 due to secular change, local heat generation, or the like, the detection is made when the toilet seat heater and the detection line become conductive. The current flows and the photocoupler 494 is turned on. The output of the photocoupler 494 is input to the base of a PNP transistor provided with an emitter, the PNP transistor is turned on, and the collector output becomes a power supply voltage. Then, the NPN transistor 1 and the NPN transistor 1 constituting the latch circuit in the cutoff circuit 406 connected to the collector via a resistor are turned on, and the base voltage of the NPN transistor 1 is latched to the power supply voltage. Then, the NPN output stage transistor 1 of the cutoff circuit 406 is turned on, and a current flows from the constant voltage source to the NPN output stage transistor 1 via the ZCT. As a result, an imbalance occurs as in the case where a leakage occurs between the two wires passing through the ZCT, a voltage is generated at the output of the ZCT, and the leakage detection unit 510 blocks the double cut contact 511. Then, power supply to the toilet seat heater 460 is stopped.

  If it is used with dielectric breakdown, the insulating layer of the toilet seat powder coating or the insulating layer on the toilet seat surface may be destroyed, and the user may be electrocuted. This can be prevented by the present invention.

  Further, the output of the NPN output stage transistor 2 is input to the control unit 90, and the control unit displays on the display unit 514 that the cutoff circuit 406 has been operated, so that the user can know the abnormality of the toilet seat device. In addition, the current limiting resistors 493a and 493b have a very small resistance value of the heater wire 460, so that the current flowing through the heater wire 460 directly flows to the LED of the photocoupler 464 at the time of dielectric breakdown to prevent the photocoupler 494 from being broken. Therefore, the value is 10 kΩ or more. The same effect can be obtained by connecting a protective resistor of about 1 kΩ in parallel with the LED of the photocoupler 494. Further, since the limiting resistors 493a and 493b are provided between the two diodes 492, even when one of the diodes is short-circuited, the dielectric breakdown detection unit 403 does not flow a large current. Here, in FIG. 6, the polarity of the LEDs of the two diodes 492 and the photocoupler 494 is the anode on the AC power supply side, but the AC power supply side may be connected to the cathode side so that current flows to the AC power supply side.

  By setting the time constant of RC connected to the collector output of the PNP transistor to 3 seconds or more, a voltage exceeding the withstand voltage of the diode 492 is applied in the electric toilet seat withstand voltage test 1200 V for 3 seconds. Even if an avalanche is generated in the diode and a reverse current flows through the diode, the detection current flows even if the insulation between the toilet seat heater = detection lines is not broken, and even if the photocoupler 494 is turned on, the interruption circuit 406 for 3 seconds. Does not operate, the breakdown detection circuit will not malfunction. Further, if the time constant is extended to 1 minute or more, malfunction does not occur even in a dielectric strength test of 1000 V for 1 minute.

  Further, by connecting a diode in parallel with the LED of the photocoupler, the reverse voltage applied to the LED can be reduced to Vf of the diode, and the LED of the photocoupler is not destroyed.

[3-2] Over-rise detection circuit The resistance value of the thermistor 401a attached to the inner surface of the toilet seat changes due to the change in the toilet seat temperature. The change of the resistance value is converted into a voltage signal by a temperature measuring unit 401 having a constant voltage source and a resistor. The converted signal voltage is input to the comparator of the excessive rise detection unit 405. A reference voltage corresponding to 47 ° C. is input to the other input of the comparator. When the signal voltage from the temperature measurement unit 401 falls below the reference voltage, a signal is output from the over-rise detection unit 405.

  The output signal is input to the cutoff circuit 406. The shut-off circuit 406 constitutes a latch circuit combining two transistors, and latches that the output of the over-rise detection unit 405 has been switched even for a moment and holds it until the toilet seat device is turned off.

  Then, the NPN output stage transistor 1 of the cutoff circuit 406 is turned on, and a current flows from the constant voltage source to the NPN output stage transistor 1 via the ZCT. As a result, an imbalance occurs as in the case where a leakage occurs between the two wires passing through the ZCT, a voltage is generated at the output of the ZCT, and the leakage detection unit 510 blocks the double cut contact 511. Then, power supply to the toilet seat heater 460 is stopped.

[3-3] Earth Leakage Detection Circuit The earth leakage detection circuit 512 is configured by a relay including the ZCT 409, the earth leakage detection unit 510, and the both-side contact 512. The ZCT 409 amplifies the difference between the passing alternating currents and outputs it as a voltage, and the leakage detection unit 510 outputs it to the relay when the ZCT output exceeds the threshold value, and turns off the bifurcated contact 511. Further, the operation unit 515 has a test switch for the leakage detection circuit 512, and when the test switch is pressed, the control unit 90 outputs a voltage to the cutoff circuit 406. Further, when the control unit 90 detects an abnormality of the heater driving unit 402 and disconnection of the toilet seat heater 450 based on the outputs of the heater drive detection circuit 407 and the AC voltage detection circuit A513, the voltage is similarly output to the cutoff circuit 406.

  The shut-off circuit 406 constitutes a latch circuit combining two transistors, and latches that the output of the over-rise detection unit 405 has been switched even for a moment and holds it until the toilet seat device is turned off.

  Then, the NPN output stage transistor 1 of the cutoff circuit 406 is turned on, and a current flows from the constant voltage source to the NPN output stage transistor 1 via the ZCT. As a result, an imbalance occurs as in the case where a leakage occurs between two wires passing through the ZCT, a voltage is generated at the output of the ZCT, and the leakage detection unit 510 interrupts the double-cut contact 511 of the leakage detection circuit 512. To do.

[3-4] Display of safety circuit The control unit displays an abnormality on the display unit 515 to the user when the dielectric breakdown detection circuit, the excessive rise detection unit, and the leakage detection circuit are activated. In order to determine which safety circuit was operated by the control unit, an AC voltage detection circuit A513 provided with a bidirectional photocoupler, an insulating photocoupler, and a diode connected in reverse to the LED in reverse polarity. The outputs of the AC voltage detection circuit B514, the cutoff circuit 406, and the temperature measurement unit are input to the control unit.

  The outputs of the AC voltage detection circuit A 513 and the AC voltage detection circuit B 514 are shown in FIG. 11A when the double cut contact 511 is on, FIG. 11B when the electric toilet seat is disconnected from the AC power source, and when the double cut contact 511 is off. It changes as shown in FIG.

Based on this change, the control unit determines that the double contact 511 is off and determines that the safety circuit has been operated. Next, as to which safety circuit is working, when the output of the cutoff circuit 406 is output, the insulation breakdown detection circuit operates, the output voltage of the temperature measuring unit is 47 ° C. or higher, and the output of the cutoff circuit 406 If there is, the over-rise detection unit 405 operates, and if the output voltage of the cutoff circuit 406 and the temperature measurement unit 401 is 47 ° C. or less, the leakage detection circuit 510 determines the operation and displays the above. In addition, if the leakage test fails, even if the leakage test output is output, if the leakage detection circuit is not operating, the failure detection circuit failure is displayed and the operation of the toilet seat device can be stopped. The user does not continue to use the safety device when it is broken.

  Further, in this configuration, the waveform obtained by connecting the outputs of the AC voltage detection circuit A513 and the AC voltage detection circuit B514 with a wired OR circuit is as shown in FIG. 12, and the commercial power supply is disconnected by one input of the microcomputer of the control unit 90. It is possible to determine whether the double-cut contact 511 is disconnected or normal. As a result, the fact that the double-cut contact 511 is disconnected is compared to the case where a separate contact on the normally open side is prepared separately from the normal contact side of the double-cut contact 511 and it is detected that the contact has switched to that contact. Since the number of contacts is small and abnormality is displayed on the control unit and the display unit that are insulated from the commercial power supply, it is safer.

  In addition, since the output signal of the AC voltage detection circuit A513 is a waveform synchronized with the zero cross of the AC voltage, the control unit synchronizes with the zero cross and turns on the triac at an arbitrary phase, so that the power of the toilet seat heater Can be adjusted frequently.

  In this embodiment, a bidirectional photocoupler is used for the AC voltage detection circuit A513. However, basic insulation is not required between the input-side LED and the output-side phototransistor of the photocoupler. The circuit configuration may be as follows. This is because the DC power source is an insulated power source, and if the double-cut contact 511 is disconnected, the basic insulation between the double-cut contact 511 and the DC power supply is secured between the toilet seat heater and the commercial power supply.

  In the present embodiment, the AC voltage detection circuit B514 is provided. Even when the AC voltage detection circuit B514 is not provided, the control unit 90 outputs the output voltage after the DC voltage source is disconnected from the commercial power source. When a predetermined time until the voltage drops to a voltage at which the operation cannot be performed is counted and the output voltage does not drop, it can be determined that the commercial power source is not disconnected, and it can be determined that the double-contact 511 is disconnected.

  As described above, since the toilet seat device according to the present invention can ensure abnormality by detecting an abnormality occurring in the heat generating portion, it can be applied to other uses such as heating equipment that uses a heater. .

The schematic diagram which shows the structure of the toilet seat apparatus in Embodiment 1 of this invention. The exploded perspective view of the toilet seat part in Embodiment 1 of this invention The top view of the state which stuck the toilet seat heater to the toilet seat casing in Embodiment 1 of this invention 3A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A 'in FIG. 3, and FIG. B-B 'sectional view in FIG. Schematic diagram showing a detailed circuit configuration in FIG. Time chart of TRIAC control pulse of heater drive and applied voltage waveform of toilet seat heater Time chart showing the output signal of the heater drive detector in each control state of the toilet seat heater Time chart showing details of failure detection signal at the time of TRIAC short-circuit failure and toilet seat heater disconnection Time chart showing details of detection signal at TRIAC open failure Time chart showing outputs of AC voltage detection circuit 1 and AC voltage detection circuit B Time chart showing waveforms in which outputs of AC voltage detection circuit A 512 and AC voltage detection circuit B 513 are connected by a wired OR circuit Circuit diagram showing another circuit configuration of AC voltage detection circuit A

Explanation of symbols

90 Control part 100 Toilet seat device 400 Toilet seat part (toilet seat)
401 Temperature Measurement Unit 402 Heater Drive Unit 403 Dielectric Breakdown Detection Unit 405 Overrise Detection Unit 406 Cutoff Circuit (cutoff unit)
450 Toilet seat heater (heat generating part)
407 Heater drive detection unit 511 Double cut contact (contact)
512 Earth leakage breaker circuit 515 Display unit

Claims (6)

A toilet seat having a seating surface containing a metal material, a temperature measuring unit for measuring the temperature of the toilet seat, a heat generating unit provided on the back side of the seating surface of the toilet seat, a heater driving unit for driving the heat generating unit, A heater drive detection unit that detects a drive state of the heater drive unit, an AC voltage detection unit that detects an AC voltage, and a control unit that controls the heater drive unit, wherein the control unit outputs an output of the heater drive detection unit And an abnormality of the heater drive unit and disconnection of the heat generating unit from the output of the AC voltage detection unit. The toilet seat device according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit that displays an abnormality by an output from the control unit. The toilet seat according to claim 1, further comprising: a shut-off unit that shuts off both poles of the AC power supplied to the heat-generating unit based on an output of the control unit when an abnormality of the heater driving unit and disconnection of the heat-generating unit are detected. apparatus. An over-rise detection unit that detects an excessive increase in the toilet seat from the output of the temperature measurement unit is provided, and when the over-rise detection unit detects an over-rise, the blocking unit is blocked without using the control unit. The toilet seat device according to claim 3. 5. The device according to claim 3, further comprising a dielectric breakdown detection unit that detects a dielectric failure of the heat generation unit, wherein when the dielectric breakdown detection unit detects a dielectric failure, the blocking unit is blocked without using the control unit. Toilet seat device. The toilet seat device according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the contact point of the interrupting unit shares the contact point of the leakage breaker circuit that operates when the toilet seat device leaks.