JP5099604B2 - Faucet device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a faucet device provided in, for example, a hand-washing place of a public toilet, a bathroom vanity, or a kitchen, and detects water to be washed or a cup held by the user's hand or the user. The present invention relates to a water faucet device that controls water discharged from the plug device.

As a faucet device that detects a human body and automatically starts water discharge, there has been a device that starts water discharge when it is detected that a human body that is a detection target has reached an arrival point. Also, in order not to falsely detect other objects, the detection range of the sensor is limited to an area where only the human hand can be detected, and water discharge is started when the human hand reaches the arrival point near the water outlet. was there.

When a transmission wave such as a microwave hits the detection object, a reflected wave or a transmitted wave is generated. By receiving this reflected wave or transmitted wave, a human body can be detected and used for a faucet device or the like. A human body detection device that detects a human body by receiving a reflected wave of a radiated microwave from a human body, obtaining a power spectrum of the Doppler frequency signal, and comparing the peak value with a predetermined threshold is disclosed. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-80150

However, there is a problem that the timing of water discharge tends to be delayed if water discharge is started after detection of a body to be detected such as a body or a human hand has reached the arrival point. The power spectrum of the Doppler frequency signal depends on the distance to the sensor and the area of the reflector. Depending on the orientation of the palm of the hand inserted under the spout, a reflected wave with sufficient intensity may not be obtained, and the inserted hand may not be detected reliably.

The present invention provides a water faucet device capable of starting water discharge at an optimal timing according to the movement of a detected object, such as immediately before a human hand reaches under a water discharge port.

In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention,
A Doppler sensor, a water outlet, and a water receiving portion for receiving water discharged from the water outlet;
A faucet device comprising a valve for switching the water discharged from the water outlet and a control unit for controlling the driving of the valve, for detecting only a low speed component among the speed components. A low-speed component, and when the low-speed component is detected by the low-speed extractor in order to start water discharge before the object to be cleaned reaches the spout, There is provided a water faucet device that controls driving of a valve based on detection information of other velocity components and switches the water discharged from the water outlet.

  Further, according to one aspect of the present invention, the Doppler sensor has at least two filters for identifying speeds of different bands, and the filter that detects the lowest speed band is the low speed extraction unit. A faucet device is provided.

  Moreover, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a faucet device in which the Doppler sensor is disposed so as to radiate radio waves inside the water receiving portion or toward the water outlet.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, when a user puts out a hand when using a faucet device, the faucet device which is easy to use which starts water discharge at the optimal timing is provided.

Embodiments of a faucet device according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.
(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 (a) shows an overview of the first embodiment of the faucet device, FIG. 1 (b) shows a top view of FIG. 1 (a), and FIG. 1 (c) shows FIG. 1 (b). FIG. FIG. 2 shows a control block diagram.

  A faucet device 10 shown in FIG. 1 includes a spout 1 for supplying tap water, a ceramic water receiving portion 2 that receives water discharged from the spout 1, and a user's hand inside the water receiving portion 2. Based on the signal from the radio wave sensor 3 that detects that the detection object that is the object to be cleaned, such as a cup, a rag, or the like, has entered, the valve unit 4 that switches the spout water from the spout 1, and the signal from the radio wave sensor 3, It is comprised with the control part 5 which controls on and off of the valve part 4. FIG. Here, the radio wave sensor 3 is disposed on the front side, which is the side facing when the user approaches the water receiving unit 2.

The faucet device 10 has a detection area in the vicinity of the spout used as a water discharge start switch that starts water discharge from the spout when only the vicinity of the water receiving portion 2 is detected, and a hand that is immediately put out if a hand is put out. Two detection areas, a detection area in the vicinity of the water outlet, can be set so that water can be supplied, and the former will be described below as a first detection area a and the latter as a second detection area b.
Since the radio wave sensor reflects against water or metal, it can detect regardless of the material of the object to be detected. When the first detection area a is set, an object to be cleaned such as a user's hand enters. Then, the radio wave sensor 3 detects the object to be detected, the result is transferred to the control unit 5, the control unit 5 opens the valve unit 4, and discharges tap water from the spout 1. Therefore, the 1st detection area a is an area which has a switch function, and provided the marker 6 with the glaze in the edge part 2a before this water-receiving part 2 so that a user may put out a hand easily However, as another method, the water receiving portion 2 is formed of a resin or glass material that transmits visible light, and a light emitting member such as an LED is turned on to induce the user's washing action. May be. In this case, the second detection area b is an area having an automatic water stop function for identifying whether to continue water supply from the spout 1 or to switch to water stop. The advantage of this detection method is that it is unexpected when the user wants to start water discharge from the spout, for example, for the act of placing an object in the receiving part or taking up the thing placed in the receiving part, Since tap water is not supplied from the spout 1, a faucet device with high water saving can be provided without wetting sleeves and clothes.
On the other hand, when the detection area is set in the second detection area b, since the action of putting out the hand and the cleaning action are established by one action, the hand washing operation can be performed quickly. It becomes a faucet device. A detailed control flow will be described later.

Next, the radio wave sensor 3 which is a detection means will be described with reference to FIG.
The radio wave sensor 3 includes an oscillation circuit 11 that generates radio waves, a transmission / reception integrated antenna 12 that transmits radio waves generated by the oscillation circuit 11 to a detected object, and receives reflected radio waves from the detected object, and an antenna 12. And a detection unit 13 that determines the presence / absence of an object to be detected based on the received signal. Although the antenna 12 may be a separate transmission / reception unit, in the present invention, in order to install the antenna 12 inside the water receiving unit 2, miniaturization is prioritized and integrated. Thus, the radio wave radiated from the radio wave sensor 3 can be transmitted if the material of the water receiving portion 2 is other than metal, and the amount of radio wave transmission depends on dirt such as water droplets and scales. Therefore, in other sensing methods such as an infrared sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, and a capacitance sensor, it can be disposed on the front side of the water receiving unit 2 that may not be installed and may become dirty.
The detection unit 13 performs frequency analysis or frequency conversion for allowing only a predetermined frequency to pass through the mixer unit 14 that mixes the local signal from the oscillation circuit 11 and the RF signal from the antenna 12, and the Doppler signal extracted by the mixer unit 14. The unit 17 is configured. The frequency conversion unit 17 may be configured by software processing or an electric circuit, but in the present invention, software processing is used. The frequency analysis performed by the frequency conversion unit 17 may use FFT analysis, but in the present invention, it has filters divided into a plurality of bands, and is performed depending on the presence or absence of waveforms after passing through each filter. doing. The frequency conversion unit includes a low-speed extraction unit 15 that extracts only the movement of a slow low-speed component in the deceleration process immediately before the moving object stops at the target, and a high-speed extraction unit 16 that extracts a high-speed component faster than the movement. Is provided. Thus, the low-speed component indicates a slow movement immediately before the subject stops at the arrival point, and is a speed that can be detected by the sensor unit even when the subject moves from various directions from the height posture of the user. The signal detected by is a predetermined threshold, for example, a frequency of 10 Hz or less. On the other hand, the high-speed component indicates an acceleration or constant speed movement such as a movement across the spout, an action of draining water inside the water receiving section, an action of scrubbing hands with each other, and a sensor section 100 described later. As a signal detected by, there is a predetermined threshold, for example, a motion of 10 Hz or more.
The frequency ΔF (Hz) of the Doppler signal detected by the sensor unit 100 can be expressed by the following equation (1).
ΔF = Fs−Fb = 2 × Fs × v / c Equation (1)
Where Fs: transmission frequency (Hz)
Fb: reflection frequency (Hz)
v: object moving speed (m / s)
c: speed of light (= 300 × 106 m / s)
When the object to be detected moves relative to the sensor unit 100, an output signal including a frequency ΔF proportional to the velocity v can be obtained as represented by Expression (1). The output signal has a frequency spectrum, and there is a correlation between the peak frequency corresponding to the peak of the spectrum and the velocity v of the moving object. Therefore, the velocity v can be obtained by measuring the Doppler frequency ΔF. In Japan, a frequency in the range of 10.50 to 10.55 GHz or a range of 24.05 to 24.25 GHz can be used for the purpose of detecting a human body. Hereinafter, signal processing using the frequency conversion unit 17 of the obtained Doppler signal will be described.

  Next, FIG. 3 shows the speed of a person's hand using the faucet device, FIG. 4 shows a flow chart for the action, and FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 show the waveforms of the Doppler signals extracted by the frequency converter. Show. With reference to these drawings, the control flow of spout water from the spout 1 performed by the detection unit 13 will be described.

There are various ways to put out a person's hand, such as the height of the user and the posture of hand-washing. Even when the hand moves slowly, the speed changes like v1 in FIG. To slow down. Further, even in the case of a person who puts out his hand quickly, as shown in FIG. 4 (b), he first enters the water receiving portion at a high speed, and then suddenly decelerates toward the target and eventually stops at the target value which is the detection area. As described above, there are various speeds after the hand enters the water receiving part, and although the time until stopping is different, all have a speed component of 10 Hz or less, and it will be understood that it will eventually stop. A sequence using this speed change will be described with reference to FIG.
First, in S <b> 01, the detection unit 13 extracts a signal from the low speed extraction unit 15 of the frequency conversion unit 17. The low speed extraction unit detects a speed of 10 Hz or less as described above. More preferably, it is desirable to extract a signal of several Hz to 10 Hz so as not to detect fluctuations in the hand of the stationary object or in the water receiving part, but here, it is set to 0 to 10 Hz. In S01, it is determined whether the signal Vs of the low speed extraction unit has a maximum value and a minimum value Vs> V1 or Vs <V2. Here, when the signal Vs changes from the state shown in FIG. 5A to FIG. 5B, the detection state is entered in S01, and the signal of the high speed extraction unit 16 is then extracted in S02. Here, when the signal Vs is between V3 and V4 as shown in FIG. 6A, the detection unit 13 determines that the user's hand has entered the first detection area a. In S03, an instruction to turn on the valve unit 4 is issued from the detection unit 13 to the control unit 5 to open the valve unit 4 and supply tap water from the spout 1 toward the water receiving unit 2. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6B, when the maximum value and the minimum value of the signal Vs are Vs> V3 or Vs <V4, the control unit continues to close the valve in S05. The determination time of S02 is preferably set to a time earlier than the frequency period detected by the low speed extraction unit 15. The signal waveform of the high speed extraction unit may be stored, and the determination may be made by going back to the time detected by the low speed extraction unit in S01.
This is an algorithm for discriminating movements other than the hand washing action detected by the radio wave sensor 3 inside the water receiving part 2, for example, the action of cutting off water adhering to the hand after washing, It is a hand-cranking action that lifts dirt evenly on the hand, a draining action that throws away water inside the water receiving part, and a movement of falling water adhering to the inner wall of the water receiving part. Since these actions and movement of water have various horizontal and vertical directions and various speed components with respect to the radio wave sensor 3, the low speed extraction unit 15 instantaneously extracts the low frequency components in the movement. There are things to do. At that time, the control unit 5 may determine that the hand is decelerating, and there is a possibility that the user becomes a faucet faucet device in which water comes out when the user is not washing hands, but these movements are always slow. Since not only the component but also the high-speed component is detected at the same time, or the high-speed component is emitted in the periodic movement after detecting the low-speed component, the erroneous spout from the spout can be eliminated by making a determination in S02. Moreover, in spite of these signal processing, the determination time of S02 is set to a time earlier than the frequency cycle detected by the low speed extraction unit 15, or the signal waveform of the high speed extraction unit is stored. , Adding an algorithm that goes back to the time detected by the low-speed extraction unit in S01, it is possible to identify whether or not the control unit 5 is a hand washing action by a slowing motion before stopping near the sensor, and a valve “open” command Therefore, water discharge can be started at an early timing before stopping at the target, and the user becomes a faucet device that is easy to use without losing the position to be pushed out. This algorithm explained the algorithm of the control unit when water is supplied from the spout to the hand that is put out to the second detection area b. In this case, the same algorithm may be used, and after detecting the object to be cleaned in the first detection area a in S02, to change the direction of the hand toward the water outlet, If water saving is considered, instead of opening the valve at the moment of detection, it will display with a buzzer sound or LED that detects to the user that the control unit has detected, and until it stops at the spout A comfortable faucet device can be provided without impairing usability even when a time difference is set such that the valve is opened.
After the valve is opened, in S04, the detection unit 13 allows the signal Vs of the high-speed extraction unit to pass through a high-pass filter of 1 Hz or higher in the frequency conversion unit 17 in order to identify the user's cleaning state in the second detection area b. It is determined whether the Doppler signal Vs at this time satisfies Vs> V5 or Vs <V6 shown in FIG. When a waveform having a large amplitude as shown in FIG. 7 (a) is obtained at this time, a Doppler signal based on the water flow of tap water scattered by the user's hand or fingertip is shown. Part 4 is continued in the “on” state. However, when the maximum and minimum values of Vs shown in FIG. 7B are V7 <Vs <V5 or V8 <Vs <V6, the user finishes the hand washing operation and is supplied from spout 1 water. In S05, the detection unit 13 instructs the control unit 5 to “off” the valve unit 4 and the valve unit 4 is closed. However, in the case of V8 <Vs <V7 as shown in FIG. 7C, it is detected that the fluctuation of the water surface in the state where the water supplied from the spout 1 is being drawn into a cup or the like is detected. The detection unit 13 continues the valve unit 4 in the “on” state. Thereafter, when water overflows from the cup, in order to obtain a Doppler signal accompanying the reflected radio wave from the water scattered around the cup, the amplitude intensity as shown in FIG. Set part 4 to “off”.

As described above, when water discharge is started from the spout toward the water receiving unit at an early timing, the user can put out his / her hand against the water so that the user can wash his / her hands without hesitation of the position to be fed out. be able to.
In addition, the explanation has been made assuming hand washing action so far, but also the action of washing the toothbrush or drawing water into the cup, as well as identifying the speed component that each hand with an object that wants to use water enters the detection area In addition, since it is possible to control the timing of spouting from the spout, it is possible to provide a comfortable faucet device that can supply water before the user stops at the spout and does not hesitate to push out. .

(Second embodiment)
FIG. 8 shows an overview of the second embodiment of the faucet device.

  The faucet device 50 includes a spout 30 for supplying tap water, a water receiving part 32 for receiving water discharged from the spout 30, a control part 35, and a valve part 34 for switching the water discharged from the spout 30. It consists of The spout 30 includes a radio wave sensor 33, a waveguide 36 that guides radio waves transmitted and received from the antenna of the radio wave sensor 33 to the spout 31 of the spout 30, and a water channel 37 that carries water from the valve to the spout. ing.

The size of the waveguide 36 is determined based on the frequency of the radio wave to be used and the oscillation mode to be passed. Here, the waveguide 36 has a shape assuming a TE10 mode that can minimize the size. The shape may be a square or a circle, and may be determined by the design of the spout 30. Here, a square shape is adopted. In addition, a sealing member 38 for preventing entry of tap water is inserted into the open end 36a of the waveguide 36 on the water discharge port 31 side.

With this arrangement, the radio wave radiated from the antenna of the radio wave sensor 33 passes through the inside of the waveguide 36, passes through the sealing member 38, and is radiated toward the water receiving unit 32. If the hand to be cleaned exists near the spout 30, the radio wave reflected from the hand passes through the sealing member 38 and the waveguide 36 and can be received by the antenna of the radio wave sensor 33. The configuration of the radio wave sensor 33 and the algorithm for water discharge from the spout 30 are omitted as in the first embodiment.
Unlike the first embodiment, since the radio wave sensor 33 is arranged inside the spout, the water receiving portion 32 does not depend on the material or shape such as a metal material that does not allow radio waves to pass through, so anything can be used. Increased versatility. In addition, since the hand decelerating toward the spout is in the direction toward the sensor, the reflected power increases inversely to the square of the distance as it approaches, so the S / N is improved and the control unit is more accurate. A high water stoppage determination can be made.

  Further, as in the first embodiment, the radio wave sensor 33 can detect a speed change that attenuates toward the water discharge port 31 from the moment when an object to be cleaned such as a hand or a toothbrush is inserted into the water receiving portion 32. It is possible to discriminate whether the object to be cleaned is about to decelerate and stop, or the user's movement to cut water in the water receiving part 32 outside the purpose of cleaning and the hand-grip action to spread soap over the entire palm become. Therefore, immediately before stopping near the spout 31, the control unit 35 can issue an opening command to the valve 34, and as a result, it is possible to realize quick water discharge, without losing the position to put out the hand, An apparatus 30 can be provided.

(Third embodiment)
FIG. 9 (a) shows a schematic view of a third embodiment in which the faucet device is incorporated in the kitchen faucet device, and FIG. 9 (b) shows a cross-sectional view taken along the line B in FIG. 9 (a).

  The kitchen faucet device 70 includes a faucet device 60, a cooking work table 51, a stove (not shown), and a front panel 52. The faucet device 60 includes a spout 51 for supplying tap water, a sink 52 that receives water discharged from the spout 51, a user's hand, a kitchen knife, and a cutting board inside the sink 52. A radio wave sensor 53 that detects that a detection object that is an object to be cleaned, such as a cooking utensil such as food, has entered, a valve unit 54 that switches water discharged from the spout 51, and a signal from the radio wave sensor 53 And a control unit 55 that controls on and off of the valve unit 54. Here, the radio wave sensor 53 is installed outside the water receiving unit 52 and hidden behind the cooking work table 51.

The faucet device 60 has two detection areas, and the first detection area d is set in the vicinity of the radio wave sensor 53 on the cooking work table 51 side on the inner surface of the sink 52, and the second detection area e Is set near the point where the trajectory of water discharged from the spout 51 intersects the overflow surface of the water receiving section.
As in the first embodiment, in the first detection area d, when an object to be cleaned such as a user's hand enters, the detection unit (not shown) of the radio wave sensor 53 sets the valve unit 54 to the control unit 55. In order to issue a command for opening and to discharge tap water from the spout 51, the area has a switch function. Since the first detection area d is on the wall surface of the sink 52, it is convenient when the spout 51 is used across the sink 52 from the front of the work table, and the user stands in front of the water receiving section. In this case, it is easy to use because the supply of tap water can be started without putting a hand all the way to the sink 52. In order to further improve the usability, it is better to provide the markers 56 on the upper surface of the cooking work table 51 and the side surface 52a of the water receiving part 52 so that the user can easily put out his / her hand. As long as the marker 56 is a seal type that can be removed until the user gets used to it, the kitchen faucet device 70 can be simply configured, and the cooking work table 51 is made of resin or glass. When formed of a material that transmits visible light, a light-emitting member such as an LED may be turned on to induce the user's cleaning action. The second detection area e is an area having an automatic water stop function for identifying whether water supply from the spout 51 is continued or switched to water stop.

  The configuration of the radio wave sensor 53 and the control flow of the detection unit of the radio wave sensor 53 are omitted as in the first embodiment. In addition, the radio wave beam is reflected not only by the user's hand and water but also by metal materials, so it can be detected regardless of the color, shape, or material of cooking utensils such as kitchen knives, pans and pans. Even if you do not hold your hand over the first detection area d, you can supply tap water from the spout 51 just by holding the object to be cleaned. It can be operated from a location away from the spout 51 across the sink 52 from the front.

As in the first embodiment, since the radio wave sensor 53 emits a radio wave beam from the end 52 a of the sink 52 toward the spout 51, an object to be cleaned such as a hand, a knife or tableware is inserted into the sink 52. It is possible to detect a speed change that attenuates toward the first detection area d from the moment when the object is washed, so that the object to be cleaned is about to decelerate and stop, or the user cuts water in the sink, It is possible to determine whether the movement is across the first detection area d in order to place a cooking appliance such as a pan. Therefore, water discharge can be started from the spout 51 before the object to be cleaned stops in the first detection area d, or after detecting that the object is detected in the first detection area d with a buzzer or LED, The cleaning object moves from the first detection area d to the second detection area e, which is a cleaning point, and can start water discharge from the spout 51 before reaching the second detection area e. A comfortable faucet device 60 for putting out a hand in the water can be provided.

It is a figure explaining a 1st Example. It is a block diagram of a radio wave sensor. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the speed change of a to-be-cleaned body. It is a figure which shows the control flow of a detection part. It is a figure which shows the Doppler signal waveform obtained in a detection part. It is a figure which shows the Doppler signal waveform obtained in a detection part. It is a figure which shows the Doppler signal waveform obtained in a detection part. It is a figure explaining a 2nd Example. It is a figure explaining a 3rd Example.

Explanation of symbols

1, 30, 51, spouts 2, 22, 52, water receiving units 3, 23, 53, radio wave sensors 4, 24, 54, valve units 5, 25, 55, control units 10, 50, 60, faucet device oscillation Circuit antenna detection unit Mixer unit Low-speed extraction unit High-speed extraction unit Frequency conversion unit Water outlet waveguide channel 38, sealing member 70, kitchen faucet device

Claims (3)

A Doppler sensor,
The spout,
A water receiving portion for receiving water discharged from the water outlet;
A valve for switching water discharge from the water outlet;
A control unit for controlling the driving of the valve;
A faucet device comprising:
Further comprising a low speed extraction unit for detecting only the low speed component of the speed component,
The control unit detects the velocity component other than the low-speed component when the low-speed component is detected by the low-speed extraction unit in order to start water discharge before the object to be cleaned reaches the water outlet. A water faucet device that controls driving of the valve based on the above and switches the water discharged from the water outlet. The faucet according to claim 1, wherein the Doppler sensor has at least two filters for identifying speeds of different bands, and the filter for detecting the lowest speed band is the low speed extraction unit. apparatus. The faucet device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the Doppler sensor is disposed so as to radiate radio waves inside the water receiving portion or toward the water outlet.

Images