JP5234495B2 - System kitchen - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an installation method for an excitation direction of a radio wave sensor installed on a sink side wall in a system kitchen.

  Conventionally, there has been a system kitchen that detects an object to be detected by a sensor and performs opening / closing control of a valve based on the detection result.

  In addition, a kitchen device is described in which an object to be cleaned (for example, a hand or tableware) is brought close to the faucet and detected by a photoelectric sensor to open a valve (see, for example, Patent Document 1). ).

  Further, a urinal is described in which the detection accuracy for detecting a detection target is improved by the excitation direction of the radio wave sensor (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

Further, an object sensor that scans a transmission signal radiated from a radio wave sensor and detects an object has an object sensor with different detection accuracy with respect to the excitation direction of the radio wave sensor and the moving direction of the object (for example, see Patent Document 3). ).
Japanese Utility Model Sho 61-75570 Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-184666 JP 2006-287766 A

  However, as in Patent Document 1, when a hand is inserted into the photoelectric sensor arranged on the side wall of the sink and the valve opening / closing control is performed in accordance with light shielding or reflection, an object such as a cooking utensil is placed inside the sink. In such a case, since the photoelectric sensor performs detection in accordance with shielding or reflection by the object, there is a possibility that water discharge may be performed in a scene where water discharge is not desired.

  Further, as in Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3, when the excitation direction of the radio wave sensor is determined in accordance with the movement of the detection target to be detected by the radio wave sensor, the noise movement that reduces the detection accuracy is detected. Because it is not considered, the movement of the detected object that you want to detect can be detected, but in order to detect the movement of the detected object that you do not want to detect, In some cooking operations, there was a possibility of false detection.

  Therefore, in the present invention, when the radio wave sensor is installed on the sink side wall in the system kitchen, it is possible to sense the detection target to be detected, and the sensing performance is reduced with respect to the movement of the object that is not desired to be detected. An object of the present invention is to provide a system kitchen capable of improving the detection accuracy of the entire system kitchen.

  In order to achieve the object, a faucet having a water outlet, a sink that receives water discharged from the water outlet, a radio wave sensor that transmits and receives radio waves, and a detected object obtained from the radio wave sensor And a valve for switching whether to supply water to the water outlet or not, wherein the radio wave sensor is on the sink side wall, and the excitation direction of the radiated radio wave is A system kitchen characterized by being arranged so as to be substantially parallel to the bottom surface of the sink can be provided.

  Further, according to one aspect of the present invention, the radio wave sensor is disposed on the back side of the sink side wall so that the radio wave can be transmitted in the vicinity of the opening of the sink side wall and through the sink side wall into the sink. It is possible to provide a system kitchen characterized by that.

  Further, according to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a system kitchen characterized in that a counter is provided adjacent to the sink, and the radio wave sensor is disposed on the sink side wall adjacent to the counter. .

  According to the present invention, a radio wave sensor is provided on the sink side wall, and the radio wave sensor is installed so that the excitation direction thereof is substantially parallel to the bottom surface of the sink. It is possible to reduce detection and to secure detection accuracy with respect to a detection target to be provided by the user.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
In FIG. 1, the schematic block diagram of the system kitchen of this invention is shown. The system kitchen of the present invention is obtained from a faucet 1 having a water outlet, a sink 2 that receives water discharged from the water outlet, a radio wave sensor 4 that transmits and receives radio waves, and the radio wave sensor 4. A system kitchen having a valve that opens and closes based on detection information of the detection target and switches whether or not to supply water to the water outlet, wherein the radio wave sensor 4 is a radio wave emitted from the sink side wall 3 The excitation direction is arranged so as to be substantially parallel to the bottom surface of the sink.

  Here, the direction relationship of the sink 2 in the present embodiment will be described. In FIG. 1, the place where the user uses the sink 2, for example, in this embodiment, the surface facing the faucet 1 is the front edge side, the surface facing the front edge side is the rear edge side, and the sink opening surface direction is The upper direction, the direction in which the sink bottom surface exists, is the lower side, the left side of the drawing is the left side, and the right side of the drawing is the right side. The sink 2 includes a side wall and a bottom surface that exist on the front edge side, the rear edge side, the left side, and the right side. Note that the boundary between the sink side wall 3 and the bottom surface provided in each direction is not necessarily clear. For example, the connection surface between the side surfaces may be formed as a curved surface. Further, the sink bottom surface and the sink sidewall may be formed at an identifiable angle or shape. Further, the bottom surface of the sink is not limited to a horizontal surface, and may be formed with an inclination. Further, the sink sidewalls may all change in the same depth direction according to the shape of the sink bottom surface and the entire sink without having the same length.

  Here, the installation method of the radio wave sensor 4 will be described. When the radio wave sensor 4 is installed on a side other than the sink side wall 3, for example, when it is installed on the bottom surface of the sink, a cooking utensil or the like is installed on the bottom surface of the sink, or washing water that scatters or spreads on the bottom surface of the sink is detected. Therefore, as a result, there is a possibility that a problem of discharging water at a timing when it is not desired to discharge water may occur. For example, when the radio wave sensor 4 is installed in the faucet 1 and sensing is performed by radiating radio waves into the space, the hand passes near the faucet 1 when performing the washing operation or cooking in the sink 2. As a result, it may cause a problem that water is discharged at a timing when it is not desired to discharge water. However, when the radio wave sensor 4 is installed on the sink side wall 3, the cooking utensil or the like is rarely brought into direct contact with the sink side wall 3, and in the vicinity of the sink side wall 3, the sink side wall 3 becomes an obstacle and the cooking operation is difficult. Therefore, the cooking operation is performed with a certain distance from the sink side wall 3, so that the operation is reduced in the vicinity of the sink side wall 3. Therefore, in the present invention, the radio wave sensor 4 is provided on the sink side wall 3 to make it difficult to detect movements other than the operation on the radio wave sensor 4. Furthermore, by installing the radio wave sensor 4 above the sink side wall 3 (place close to the open surface of the sink 2), it becomes difficult to detect the movement of the small cooking utensil and the washing water placed inside the sink 2. Sensing can be performed without being affected by the situation inside the sink 2 or the washing water. Further, by installing the radio wave sensor 4 above the sink 2, when the user causes the detected object to enter the sink side surface 3, a large hand is not inserted below the sink 2 (in the direction inside the sink 2). Since the operation can be performed, the operation can be easily performed without causing the user's body to perform an operation in a state where a load is applied.

  Further, if the detection range in the radio wave sensor 4 is set in the vicinity of the sink side wall 3, the detection signal obtained by reflecting the transmission signal radiated from the sink side wall 3 on a distant object can be canceled. Therefore, it is possible to detect only an operation on the sensor in the vicinity of the sink side wall 3, and the detection accuracy can be further improved. As the method, for example, it is possible to discriminate from other movements by detecting the approach, separation, and substantially stationary state of the detection object in the vicinity of the sink side wall 3. For example, with regard to the approach of the hand, the object to be detected approaches the sink side wall 3 by approaching the sink side wall 3, and contacts the radio wave sensor in a non-contact state in the vicinity of the sink side wall 3. Perform the operation. At this time, since the sink side wall 3 is present, the detected body is decelerated in the vicinity of the sink side wall 3 so as not to collide with the detected body, and becomes substantially stationary. Here, the deceleration generated when approaching the sink side wall 3 is detected, and the detected object detects the approach (increase in the amplitude value in the voltage) and the deceleration, thereby discriminating from other operations. ing. As another method, when the object moves away, the sink side wall 3 is moved away after the operation, so that the object accelerates from a substantially stationary state. Therefore, when detecting at a distance, a method for detecting an acceleration operation after a substantially stationary state and further detecting a distance (a decrease in the amplitude value in the voltage) to distinguish from other operations is performed. Yes. In the substantially stationary state, when the detected object is operated with respect to the radio wave sensor 4, the substantially stationary state occurs at least for a moment. In this case, since the object is stopped immediately before the radio wave sensor 4, a very large detection signal (amplitude value in the voltage value) is generated at a very low frequency (including a DC signal). A method of detecting such a situation, detecting a substantially stationary state of a detection object in the vicinity, and discriminating from other operations is performed. The methods as described above can be performed alone or in combination, and by performing the combination, it is possible to estimate the trajectory of the movement of the object, so that the detected object is detected with higher accuracy. It becomes possible.

  However, it has been described that the radio wave sensor 4 is installed on the sink side wall 3 and the operation only for the radio wave sensor 4 is sensed using the detection method as described above. An operation close to the method occurs, and as a result, there is a possibility of erroneous detection due to an operation mistake. For example, when a cooking utensil is installed near the sink side wall 3, a cooking utensil with a height direction in particular (for example, a cooking utensil whose height reaches the opening surface of the sink 2 like a pasta pan) is sinked. 2 When installed from the open surface, it is close to the movement of a person with respect to the vicinity of the sink side wall 3. Therefore, in the present invention, in order to identify the operation in the vicinity of the sink side wall 3 and the other operations, the movement that is not desired to be detected is identified according to the installation direction of the radio wave sensor 4 to reduce erroneous water discharge due to erroneous detection. To provide a system kitchen.

  Here, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 show the insertion direction of the detected object with respect to the excitation direction 8 of the sensor when installed on the sink side wall 3. FIG. 2 shows a case where the excitation direction 8 of the radio wave sensor 4 is installed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the sink bottom surface. Generally, the user inserts the detected object into the radio wave sensor 4 by using a hand, so that the object to be detected is inserted from the direction facing the radio wave sensor 4 in the same direction as the transmission signal of the radio wave sensor 4 or the sink. 2 There is a method of inserting from above the transmission signal of the radio wave sensor 4 so as to cross. The insertion from the direction facing the radio wave sensor 4 can be detected regardless of the excitation direction 8 of the radio wave sensor 4. It is possible to detect the movement to be operated and other movements. Here, the relationship between the insertion from above the sink 2 and the excitation direction 8 is shown. In FIG. 2, since the excitation direction 8 of the radio wave sensor 4 is installed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface of the sink, it is easy to detect the movement of the sink 2 in the vertical direction. As shown in FIG. 2A, when the user operates from above the sink 2, the hand is operated with the user's shoulder as a base point, so that the operation is performed obliquely from above the sink 2 (from the upper left to the lower right in the figure). Done. At that time, although it affects the height of the user and the counter height of the kitchen, the hand is inserted at an angle of about 50 to 80 ° with respect to the upper surface of the counter, and the sink 2 has a vector in the vertical direction. Therefore, it is possible to detect the movement of the detected object with respect to the sink side wall 3 as shown in FIG. However, as shown in FIG. 2B, for cooking utensils such as pots, especially large cooking utensils that reach the upper part of the sink 2, there is a risk of water colliding with the counter on the front edge of the sink 2 when water is discharged from an oblique direction. In general, the sink 2 is often placed in the sink 2 from above the sink 2 because of movement from the counter or the heating cooker 11 adjacent to the sink 2. At that time, since only the movement from above the sink 2 is performed, when the excitation direction 8 is perpendicular to the bottom surface of the sink, the operation of placing the cooking utensil is reliably detected as shown in FIG. Resulting in. In addition, because it is a material such as metal that easily reflects radio waves, the detection signal may be larger than the user's operation, and if the user simply tries to judge by comparing the amplitude value of the detection signal with the threshold, Since a result similar to that of a large detection signal generated when the radio wave sensor is closest to the radio wave sensor 4 is obtained, it is difficult to distinguish it from the user's operation. Therefore, there is a possibility that water will be discharged even when the cooking utensil enters, and there is a high possibility that water will be discharged at a timing when it is not desired to discharge water.

  Therefore, in the present invention, as shown in FIG. 3, the radio wave sensor 4 is installed so that the excitation direction 8 of the radio wave sensor 4 is substantially parallel to the bottom surface of the sink. When the excitation direction 8 of the radio wave sensor 4 is installed in a direction substantially parallel to the bottom surface of the sink, when the user inserts his hand from an oblique direction as shown in FIG. Since it has a vector in the horizontal direction with respect to the bottom surface of the sink, it is possible to obtain a detection signal having the same amplitude value as in FIG. 5A even when the excitation direction 8 changes. However, as shown in FIG. 3B, in the operation of placing a cooking utensil such as a pan, there is almost no horizontal vector with respect to the bottom surface of the sink, so the operation is performed in the same manner as in FIG. However, since a large amplitude value cannot be obtained as a detection signal as shown in FIG. 5B and only the motion is orthogonal to the excitation direction 8, a periodic signal for the motion can be output. Since this is not possible, by making the determination based on the frequency by reducing the amplitude value, it is possible to make a difference from the insertion of the object by the user and the identification becomes possible. Accordingly, it is possible to determine whether the object to be detected is inserted or whether the movement is caused by the installation of a cooking utensil or the like, and water can be discharged only at a timing when water discharge is desired. Also, because the amplitude value of the detection signal is extremely small, the reflection amount of the transmission signal due to the material of the cooking utensil is canceled, and the signal is changed only to the distance and movement of the object, It is also possible to reduce false detection and the like due to a large amplitude value fluctuation caused by the difference in materials.

  Furthermore, when the radio wave sensor 4 is installed so that the excitation direction 8 is substantially parallel to the bottom surface of the sink, and the radio wave sensor 4 is installed above the sink 2, a cooking utensil or the like is placed inside the sink 2. Therefore, only the upper part of the sink 2 is the detection range, so that it reacts only to a large cooking utensil. For small cooking utensils, it moves from the upper part of the sink 2 and does not detect a substantially stationary state. Since it does not detect, it becomes possible to reduce the false detection by a motion of a cooking utensil etc. significantly, and it becomes possible to supply water discharge only at the timing which wants to discharge water.

  Next, it describes about the installation place of a sensor. The cooking work in the system kitchen is not only a cleaning operation, but also cooking on the counter top surface such as cooking, cooking and cooking, and cutting, mixing, etc. In order to perform cooking efficiently, the sink 2 and heating cooker It is desirable to work with the counter at the center of the work space 10 as the work space 10 and the work space 10 as a base point. In a general system kitchen, as shown in FIG. 6, the sink 2 and the heating cooker 11 Generally, a cooking space is provided between them. The case where the radio wave sensor 4 is installed on the sink side wall 3 adjacent to the work space 10 adjacent to the sink 2 and the heating cooker 11 will be described.

  In the work space 10, as an action often performed when performing the washing action in the sink 2, the work to quickly wash away the residual vegetables adhering to the kitchen knife in the work of cutting vegetables, etc., or the hand has become dirty during cooking And the action of washing dirty hands. In such a cleaning operation, if the manual valve capable of controlling the water discharge and the flow temperature of the cleaning water installed in the sink 2 is controlled, the operation and time for operating the valve are longer than the cleaning time. And the manual valve itself becomes dirty because the manual valve is operated by a dirty hand. Therefore, as in the present invention, by providing the sink side wall 3 with the radio wave sensor 4 that controls the opening and closing of the valve that controls the discharge water, the hand is extended to operate the manual valve, and the center of gravity is moved. Since it becomes possible to operate a valve | bulb without operation | movement of performing etc., it becomes possible to operate easily, reducing the burden of a user's body. Furthermore, by setting the detection in the radio wave sensor 4 so that it can be detected even in a non-contact state, it is possible to control the opening and closing of the valve by operating the sink side wall 3 in a non-contact manner. Even in the manual operation, the washing operation can be performed without the sink side wall 3 and the manual valve becoming dirty.

  In addition, when moving the cooking utensil or the like from the work space 10 to the inside of the sink 2, the movement of moving the cooking utensil by setting the excitation direction 8 of the radio wave sensor 4 in a direction substantially parallel to the bottom surface of the sink. Therefore, it is possible to discharge water only for an operation for which water discharge is desired, so that erroneous water discharge can be reduced.

  Moreover, it describes about the installation method of a sensor. The radio wave sensor 4 is installed on the sink side wall 3. The radio wave sensor 4 is installed from the back side of the sink side wall 3 through the sink side wall 3 so as to receive radio waves and receive reflected waves inside the sink to obtain object information. As a result, the sensor is not exposed on the surface of the sink 2, so that it is possible to install the sensor without deteriorating the appearance of the sink 2 and without processing a hole in the sink 2. Further, since the radio wave sensor 4 is not exposed on the surface and can be installed without processing the sink side wall 3, even when the sink side wall 3 is contaminated, the sink side wall 3 is cleaned by cleaning. Can be cleaned without leaving a gap or the like, so that it can be easily cleaned and the cleanliness of the sink 2 can be maintained.

However, since the radio wave sensor 4 installed on the sink side wall 3 is not visible, it is desirable to have a guiding means for indicating the location of the sensor. Since this guidance means needs to display the location of the radio wave sensor 4 installed on the sink side wall 3 when performing the cleaning work from various places, for example, the guidance means is installed on the counter upper surface of the work space 10 to perform the work. The object to be detected is guided to the radio wave sensor 4 during the cleaning operation from the space 10, or is installed on the sink side wall 3 where the radio wave sensor 4 is installed, so that the front edge of the sink 2 is placed. Even when the sink side wall 3 is visible when the work is performed, the detected object can be guided to the radio wave sensor 4, so that the detection accuracy of the detected object in the radio wave sensor 4 is further improved. It becomes possible to make it. With respect to the installation location of the guiding means, for example, when it is installed on the upper surface of the counter, by installing it on the trailing edge side of the sink 2 relative to the installation location of the radio wave sensor 4, the fingertip operated by the user is placed near the guiding means. Since it is possible to guide a palm having a substantially flat and area just before the radio wave sensor 4, it is possible to obtain a large reflection of the transmission signal and to obtain a large detection signal in the radio wave sensor 4. It is possible to improve the detection accuracy. Further, the guidance means installed on the sink side wall 3 where the radio wave sensor 4 is installed is installed on the trailing edge side of the sink 2 with respect to the installation position of the radio wave sensor 4 and on the sink bottom side with respect to the installation location of the radio wave sensor 4. Is desirable. This is the same as the case where the guiding means is installed on the upper surface of the counter. By installing the guiding means on the trailing edge side of the sink 2, the palm is guided immediately before the radio wave sensor 4 when the vicinity of the finger operated on the guiding means approaches. This is because a larger detection signal can be obtained. Further, since the hand is inserted obliquely (finger is below sink 2 and palm is above sink 2), the guiding means is placed below sink 2 than radio sensor 4, so that the palm is closer to radio sensor 4. Therefore, the detection signal in transmission / reception can be obtained in a larger state, so that the detection accuracy can be improved.

  As described above, by detecting the excitation direction 8 of the radio wave sensor 4 installed on the sink side wall 3 so as to be substantially parallel to the bottom surface of the sink, detection when a cooking utensil such as a pan is moved from above the sink 2 is detected. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a sufficiently large detection signal for the movement of inserting the object to be detected, greatly reducing false detection, and a system kitchen that can discharge water only at the timing when water discharge is desired. It becomes possible to provide.

Schematic configuration diagram of the system kitchen of the present invention Schematic configuration diagram when the radio wave sensor is installed so that the excitation direction is substantially perpendicular to the bottom of the sink Schematic configuration diagram when the radio wave sensor is installed so that the excitation direction is substantially parallel to the bottom of the sink (A) is a detection signal waveform diagram from the radio wave sensor in FIG. 2 (A), (B) is a detection signal waveform diagram from the radio wave sensor in FIG. 2 (B). (A) is a detection signal waveform diagram from the radio wave sensor in FIG. 3 (A), (B) is a detection signal waveform diagram from the radio wave sensor in FIG. 3 (B). Schematic configuration diagram in the case of having a work space in the system kitchen of the present invention

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Faucet, 2 ... Sink, 3 ... Sink side wall, 4 ... Radio wave sensor, 5 ... Opening / closing signal, 6 ... Valve, 7 ... Piping, 8 ... Excitation direction of radio wave sensor, 9 ... Cooking utensil, 10 ... Working space, 11 ... Cooking device, 12 ... Guiding means

Claims (3)

A faucet having a spout,
A sink for receiving water discharged from the water outlet;
A radio wave sensor that transmits and receives radio waves,
A system kitchen having a valve that opens and closes based on detection information of the detected object obtained from the radio wave sensor and switches whether to supply water to the water outlet,
The system kitchen according to claim 1, wherein the radio wave sensor is arranged on a side wall of the sink so that an excitation direction of the radiated radio wave is substantially parallel to a bottom surface of the sink. The radio wave sensor, claims, characterized in that said sink through and side walls of the sink opening surface near the sidewalls of, and arranged on the back side of the side wall of the sink to be able to send radio waves toward said sink The system kitchen according to 1. A counter is provided adjacent to the sink,
The system kitchen according to claim 1, wherein the radio wave sensor is disposed on a side wall of a sink adjacent to the counter.

Images