JPH0354215Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Field of industrial application] This invention uses a pyroelectric sensor to detect the person approaching the urinal using a pyroelectric sensor, and then transmits and receives infrared light, etc. The present invention relates to a toilet bowl cleaning device in which the total consumption of power for human body detection is minimized by a two-stage detection means that switches to a human body detection means using a container.

[Conventional technology]

For example, in the case of a device that detects a human body in a conventional urinal and automatically cleans the urinal,
As shown in Fig. 4, an infrared emitter/receiver 1,
2 is used. When the signal excited at a predetermined frequency by the oscillator 3 is output to the infrared light emitter 1, the light emitter 1 emits infrared light at the predetermined frequency. The infrared rays are diffusely reflected by the human body approaching the urinal. The light receiver 2 detects this reflected wave. The detection signal from the photoreceiver 2 is amplified by an amplifier 4 and output to an on-delay circuit 7 via a detector 5, a shaping circuit 6, and the like. The on-delay count 7 confirms that the person is using the toilet only when the detection signal value exceeds the reference value and is output for a predetermined time, and the microcircuit 8,
A signal is outputted via the flip circuit 9 and the single shot circuit 10 to the flush water supply valve 11 built into the toilet bowl to open it. This causes the urinal to be automatically flushed.

If the toilet user leaves the toilet, the receiver 2 cannot receive an output higher than the reference value, and the on-delay circuit 7
does not output a signal for opening the supply valve 11. That is, the supply of flushing water to the urinal is stopped, and automatic flushing is ended.

[Problem that the invention attempts to solve]

In this way, in the conventional urinal cleaning device, the human body is detected by the emitter/receiver 1 and 2 using infrared rays, and the oscillator 3 and the emitter/receiver 1, 2 are always activated. The need arose.
However, this infrared detection means has a disadvantage in that it consumes a large amount of power, and since it is necessary to keep it energized at all times, the total amount of power used is also considerably large.

[Purpose of invention]

The present invention has been developed to improve and eliminate the above-mentioned conventional problems, and to detect when a toilet user approaches the toilet using a pyroelectric sensor, which consumes much less power than infrared detection means. The aim is to significantly reduce the total power consumption by detecting with a sensor and then switching to an infrared or ultrasonic human body detection means to control the cleaning water supply valve, etc.

[Means for solving problems]

The means of the present invention for solving the above problems are as follows:
a human body detection circuit that detects a human body by comparing the output signal of the pyroelectric sensor with a reference value; a switch circuit that operates a human body detection sensor such as an infrared sensor or an ultrasonic sensor based on the output signal of the human body detection circuit; If the output signal value of the detection sensor exceeds the standard value and is output for a predetermined period of time, the circuit confirms that the person is using the toilet and controls the flushing water supply valve, etc. of the cleaning device, and the toilet cleaning device is activated. It consists of

[Effect]

As is clear from the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the pyroelectric sensor 20 consumes very little power at all times.
is energized. And this pyroelectric sensor 2
When the user of the toilet is detected by 0, the switch circuit 23 is activated and supplies power to the cleaning circuits 32 and 41. Thereafter, the human body is detected by the projector 26 and receiver 27 or the ultrasonic sensor 37 using infrared rays. Then, when the output signal value g of the light receiver 27 or the ultrasonic sensor 37 exceeds the reference value h for a certain period of time or more, it is confirmed that the user is truly using the toilet. In such a situation, in the automatic urinal cleaning device shown in FIG. 1, when the user leaves the urinal, the output signal value g of the light receiver 27
is turned off, and the water supply valve control circuit 30 turns on the valve timer circuit 33. and,
The water supply valve 35 is opened for a predetermined period of time to automatically flush the urinal. Further, in the case of the private parts cleaning device, after confirming that the user is the real user of the toilet, the operating section of the control circuit 38 is turned on. and,
When the user operates the operation part after defecating,
The water supply valve 39 is opened, and cleaning water is discharged from the cleaning nozzle 40.

In this way, the emitter/receiver 26, 27 or the ultrasonic sensor 3 that uses infrared rays, which consumes a large amount of power,
7 is energized only when necessary, making it possible to reduce the total amount of power consumption.

The configuration of the present invention will be explained below based on the embodiments shown in the drawings.

〔Example〕

Figures 1 and 2 show a first embodiment in which the present invention is applied to an automatic urinal cleaning device. Figure 1 is a block diagram of the entire circuit, and Figure 2 is a time chart. It is. As shown in FIG. 1, the automatic urinal cleaning device of this embodiment includes a human body detection circuit 24, a switch circuit 23 that turns on the power to the cleaning circuit 32 based on the output signal of the detection circuit 24, the cleaning circuit 32, and the cleaning circuit 23. The valve circuit 36 opens the water supply valve 35 for a predetermined time based on the output signal of the circuit 32.

Next, the operation mode of this embodiment device will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. Normally, only the human body detection circuit 24 is in an energized state, and the cleaning circuit 32 and the valve circuit 36 are in an OFF state. When the user approaches the urinal in this state, the pyroelectric sensor 20 detects radiant heat from the human body. The pyroelectric sensor 20 operates with a small current value of 0.015 mA, and has the advantage of significantly lower power consumption than an infrared sensor that requires 0.03 mA. In addition, in the pyroelectric sensor 20, the potential of its spontaneous polarization changes due to a slight temperature change, and since the surface charge cannot change as rapidly as the spontaneous polarization, a potential difference is created between the two, which causes the temperature of the human body to change. It is something to detect. However, when the temperature of a human body is continuously sensed, for example, the potential difference between the surface charge and the spontaneous polarization becomes equal, resulting in a stable state.
Therefore, after reaching this stable state, unless there is a temperature change, no output signal is obtained and it is impossible to continuously detect a human body or the like. The detection signal a of this pyroelectric sensor 20 is amplified by an amplifier 21 and compared with a reference value b by a comparison circuit 22. If the amplified detection signal a exceeds the reference value b,
Determining that it is a human body, the comparison circuit 22 outputs an operation signal c to the switch circuit 23.

Then, the switch circuit 23 outputs an energization signal e to the entire cleaning circuit 32 to make it energized. Therefore, the oscillator 25 starts excitation and outputs the signal f to the light projector 26. For this reason, the projector 26 irradiates the toilet user with infrared rays of a predetermined frequency.
The light receiver 27 detects infrared reflected waves from the toilet user. This detection signal g is amplified by an amplifier 28 and output to a comparison circuit 29. Comparison circuit 29
compares the amplified detection signal i and the reference value h,
When the detection signal i exceeds the reference value h, the user confirmation timer circuit 31 and the water supply valve control circuit 30
Water supply valve control circuit 30 that outputs signal j to
If the output of the signal j continues longer than the count signal k from the user confirmation timer circuit 31, it is confirmed that the user is the real user of the toilet. That is, it is determined whether a worker or the like simply passes in front of the urinal or when the worker is actually using the urinal.

When the user leaves the urinal after confirming that the user is the real user of the toilet, the detection signal g from the light receiver 27 is no longer obtained, and the water supply valve control circuit 30
outputs an operation signal to the valve timer circuit 33. This timer circuit 33 strongly magnetizes a valve drive circuit (for example, a solenoid) 34 for a predetermined period of time to open the water supply valve 35. That is,
Cleaning water is automatically discharged to the urinal, and after the set time of the valve timer circuit 33 has elapsed, the water supply valve 35
Close the toilet to complete flushing.

On the other hand, after the user leaves the urinal, the water supply valve control circuit 30 outputs a clear signal r to the switch circuit 23 and cuts off the energization signal e to the cleaning circuit 32. From then on, only the human body detection circuit 24 is energized and ready for the next use.

In this way, in this embodiment, the cleaning circuit 32 is energized and switched to the infrared human body detection means only when the user approaches the toilet bowl, so it is possible to reduce the total power consumption. . Note that in the above-described embodiment, cleaning of the urinal is started when the user leaves the urinal after confirming that the user is the real user of the urinal.
The operation timing is not limited to this. For example, it is possible to start flushing the urinal at the same time as confirming that the user is the real user of the urinal. That is, toilet bowl cleaning may be started during use. Further, the infrared transmitter/receiver 26, 27 may be a sensor using ultrasonic waves.

FIG. 3 is an overall block diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention when applied to a private part cleaning device for a Western-style toilet bowl. The basic configuration of this device and the human body detection circuit 24 are the same as in the first embodiment. The differences are that an ultrasonic sensor 37 with a current value of 120 mmA is used in place of the emitter/receiver 26 and 27, and that the water supply valve control circuit 30 is replaced by the local cleaning device control circuit 38.
Furthermore, the cleaning water in the private part cleaning section 42 is supplied to the cleaning nozzle 40 via the water supply valve 39. Briefly explaining the operating mode of the second embodiment device, when a human body is detected by the human body detection circuit 24 using the pyroelectric sensor 20, the switch circuit 23 is activated and the cleaning circuit 41 is energized. As a result, ultrasonic waves having the frequency excited by the oscillator 28 are oscillated from the sensor 37, and the sensor 37 receives reflected waves from the human body. sensor 37
The detection signal g is amplified, compared with a reference value h, and outputted to the user confirmation timer circuit 31 and the private part cleaning circuit 38. This is the same as in the first embodiment. The local cleaning circuit 38 is
When the amplified detection signal j that exceeds the reference value h is output for the time set in the timer circuit 31 or longer, it is determined that the user is a true user of the toilet, and the operating section (not shown) of the cleaning device control circuit 38 is ) is energized.
This is to prevent, for example, a child from touching the operation part when not in use, causing cleaning water to be discharged from the cleaning nozzle 40 and leaking onto the ceiling, walls, floor, etc. After that, the user finishes the act of defecating, and the cleaning device control circuit 38
When the operating section is operated, a closing operation signal p is output to the water supply valve 39, and cleaning water is discharged from the cleaning nozzle 40.

Also in the case of this second embodiment, the ultrasonic sensor 3
7 is turned on only when necessary, making it possible to significantly reduce power consumption.

By the way, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, but the target toilet may be a simple flush toilet or a Japanese-style toilet.

[Effect of idea]

As explained above, in the present invention, a human body is normally detected using a pyroelectric sensor with low power consumption, and after the human body is detected by the pyroelectric sensor, an infrared sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, etc. with high power consumption is used. Since the human body detection sensor is energized, it is possible to significantly reduce the total power consumption of the entire device.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 and 2 are related to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the entire circuit, FIG. 2 is a time chart thereof, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the entire circuit of the conventional automatic urinal cleaning device. 20...Pyroelectric sensor, 24...Human body detection circuit, 26, 27...Emitter/receiver (infrared sensor), 37...Ultrasonic sensor, 23...Switch circuit, 35, 39...Water valve.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] a human body detection circuit that detects a human body by comparing the output signal of the pyroelectric sensor with a reference value; a switch circuit that operates a human body detection sensor such as an infrared sensor or an ultrasonic sensor based on the output signal of the human body detection circuit; It is characterized by comprising a circuit that confirms that the person is using the toilet when the output signal value of the detection sensor exceeds a reference value for a predetermined period of time, and controls the flush water supply valve of the flushing device. toilet bowl cleaning device.