JPH04106231A - Hot water feeder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily manipulate a hot water feeder, by providing a voice input means, a control regulation storage means, a control inference means, and a flow rate control means in a controller and by making it possible to adjust the flow rate of hot water even a fuzzy input of users' voices. CONSTITUTION:A voice input means 27 like a microphone, a voice perception means 28, a control regulation storage means 34, a control inference means 35, and a flow rate control means 36 are provided in a controller of a hot water feeder for shower or the like. And the flow rate of hot water can be controlled even by indefinite instructions such as users' 'much more' or 'less' to change the flow rate. In this way, even persons, who are hard of seeing, can easily utilize it and easily manipulate it.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a water heater that is comfortable, safe and user-friendly for the user.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, this type of water heater has a configuration shown in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 116185/1985. First, the configuration of a conventional example will be explained with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

In Figure 4, 1 is the water side piping, 2 is the hot water side piping, 3 is the water side valve,
4 is a hot water side valve, 5 is a water side valve driving means, and 6 is a hot water side valve driving means for adjusting the valve opening degree of the hot water side valve. 7 is a mixing pipe where the water side pipe 1 and the hot water side pipe 2 join together, and a hot water temperature detection means 8 is downstream thereof.
and flow rate detection means 9 are provided. Reference numeral 10 denotes a flow rate adjusting means for starting or stopping the mixed hot water and for switching the flow path to the flusher 11 or the shower 12. Reference numeral 13 denotes a control unit which inputs the signals of the hot water temperature detection means 8 and the flow rate detection means 9, detects the difference from the set value set by the user, and controls the water side drive means 3, the hot water side drive means 4, and the flow rate adjustment means 10. Adjust the water temperature and flow rate through.

FIG. 5 shows an operation section as an example of the control section 13, and 14 indicates an operation panel. Reference numeral 15 denotes a hot water dispensing start means for instructing the start of dispensing mixed hot water, cold water, etc., and 16 a stop means for stopping the dispensing of hot water. Does I7 come out? JJ temperature display means 18 is a hot water temperature setting means for increasing or decreasing the hot water temperature. Reference numeral 19 is a flow rate setting means for increasing or decreasing the set value of the flow rate of hot water. 20 is a discharge port switching means;
Switching between KARAN 11 and SOYAWARE 12 is performed.

Next, the operation of this configuration will be explained. When a user takes a shower, for example, he operates the hot water start means and then operates the outlet switching means 20 to select the shower 12.

When the aforementioned operation signal is input to the control section 13, the control section 1
3 switches the flow path to the shower 12 side via the flow rate adjustment means 10 and adjusts the flow rate to the set flow rate. Furthermore, water side valve 3,
The opening degree of the hot water side valve 4 is adjusted to adjust the hot water temperature to a set temperature.

If the user determines that the hot water flow rate is too high, he operates the flow rate setting means 9 to lower the set flow rate. Conversely, if it is determined that the flow rate is low, increase the flow rate design value.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, such conventional water heaters have had the following problems. Users' eyesight in old age is not necessarily good, and there are people with astigmatism such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism, and there is a possibility that they may misread the operating section and operate it. In addition, in the bathroom, the light from the lighting is diffusely reflected due to steam and other factors, making it difficult to see the control panel, which may lead to incorrect operation.

For example, if you try to lower the set flow rate while taking a shower, but accidentally operate the switch that increases the flow rate, especially in areas with high water pressure, hot water may suddenly come out at a strong flow rate, which can be dangerous. .

The present invention has been made in view of this point, and an object of the present invention is to provide a water heater that prevents a user from accidentally operating the water heater.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a hot water supply means for creating an appropriate temperature, a human voice means for inputting a user's instruction voice,
A voice recognition means that recognizes an input ambiguous command voice, a flow rate adjustment means that starts or stops dispensing hot water based on an output signal of the voice recognition means, and a relationship between the hot water output flow rate of the shower or the like and the set flow rate desired by the user. control rule storage means for storing as a control rule; control inference means for inferring from the output signal from the voice recognition means and the rule 4B to set a flow rate setting value desired by the user; A flow that adjusts the hot water flow rate to the determined flow rate setting value! and control means.

Function: With the above configuration, the shower apparatus of the present invention recognizes the voice command issued by the user by the voice recognition means, and first energizes the flow rate adjustment means with the hot water supply instruction command to control opening. Next, when the user issues an instruction command using ambiguous words to change the set flow rate to a desired value, the command is recognized, and the control inference means makes inferences based on the recognized signal and control rules to determine the degree of ambiguity. Find the appropriate set flow rate. Then, the flow rate control means adjusts the tapped water flow rate to the new set value obtained.

By giving instructions by voice, the user can reliably and accurately obtain the desired flow rate of hot water. Also,
When changing the set flow rate, it is possible to set the appropriate flow rate even with vague instructions.

Example Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of the present invention, and the same components in the prior art shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 are given the same reference numerals.

First, the present invention will be explained in detail. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 21 denotes a mixing means, which mixes high-temperature hot water sent from a water heater 22 and tap water to produce hot water suitable for drinking water or the like.

23 is a hot water supply means, which in FIG. 1 consists of a hot water supply device 21 and a mixing means 22. Further, the hot water supply means 23 may be composed of only the hot water supply device 22. Reference numeral 24 denotes a flow rate regulating means which switches the hot water outlet to the shower 11 and the shower I2, and also performs hot water dispensing, stopping, and flow rate adjustment.

25 is a control unit, which includes a hot water supply means 23 and a flow rate adjustment means 24;
control. Reference numeral 26 denotes an operating means that outputs setting signals and operating signals to the control section 25.

FIG. 2 shows an example of this. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 27 denotes a voice input means (for example, a microphone installed on the wall of the shower room, an operation section, etc.) for inputting instructions from the user. 28 is a voice recognition means, 29 is a voice analysis means, 30 is a standard pattern registration means, and 31 is a tUQ degree calculation means 32 which is an identification means. Reference numeral 33 denotes a flow rate setting means for setting a set value for the amount of hot water initially dispensed, that is, a default value. It can be set as a fixed value or the user can set it as a certain volume. Reference numeral 34 denotes a control rule storage means which stores the relationship between the flow rate of hot water discharged from the hot water source and the flow rate desired by the user as a control rule. The control rule storage means 34 has an antecedent storage means 34a and a consequent storage means 3.
4b. 35 is a control inference means, and an identification means 32
output signal and flow rate setting means 33 and control rule storage means 3
compatibility calculation means 34a to which the output signal of 4 is input;
The weighting to which the consequent part storage means 34b and the goodness of fit calculation means 35a are input consists of a calculation means 35b and a center of gravity calculation means 35c which determines a new flow rate set value.

Reference numeral 36 denotes a flow rate control means, which includes a deviation calculation means 37 which calculates a flow rate deviation from the tapped water flow rate determined by the flow rate detection means 9 based on the flow rate set value outputted from the control reasoning means 35, and a deviation calculation means 37 which calculates a flow rate deviation based on the determined flow rate deviation. The biasing amount setting means 38 calculates the biasing amount of the flow rate adjusting means 24.

Next, the operation of the configuration of the present invention will be explained. FIG. 3 shows a flowchart showing the operation. The user issues an instruction command to the voice input means 27. For example, the user issues an instruction such as "No, please.'' The voice is inputted to the voice recognition means 28 through the voice input means 27. The input audio signal is divided into specific frequencies by the audio analysis means 29 through a filter.Next, the standard pattern is taken out from the standard pattern registration means 30 and compared with the divided input signal by the similarity calculation means 31. .

Then, the distance between the signal and the pattern signal is determined, and the accumulated sum or average value (that is, the distance between patterns) is determined. P1 in Figure 3
~ Corresponds to P4. The identification means 32 recognizes the corresponding word from the distance between the patterns obtained. Then, the recognition signal is output to the energizing amount setting means 38. When the energizing amount setting means 38 receives the recognition signal, it determines and outputs the energizing amount of the flow rate adjusting means 24. Then, hot water is dispensed or stopped from Karan 11 or Nyawar 12.

After hot water starts dispensing, if there is no voice instruction to change the flow rate setting value from the beginning, the default value of the flow rate setting means 33 and the flow rate detection means 9 set by the user in advance will be changed.
The flow rate deviation is determined from the flow rate value detected by the energizing amount setting means 38, and the energizing amount of the flow rate adjusting means 24 is determined and output.

In addition, when the user issues an instruction to change the flow rate setting value via the voice manual means 27, for example, an ambiguous instruction based on the user's subjectivity such as "'more',""less","most", etc. Give instructions in words. It is recognized by the voice recognition means 28 and output to the control reasoning means 35. In the control inference means 35, the degree of conformity is determined by the degree of conformity calculation means 35a from the input signal from the identification means 32, the default value of the flow rate setting from the flow rate setting means 33, and the control rule in the control rule storage means 34. The obtained fitness is determined by combining the weighted control rules in the zero-order center of gravity calculation means 35c, which weights the control rules in the consequent part storage means 35b, and calculates the center of gravity. That is, 6 or more, where the calculated center of gravity value becomes the new flow rate setting value, corresponds to P6 to PIO in the flowchart.

Next, a flow rate deviation is determined from the determined flow rate setting value and the tapping flow rate detected by the flow rate detection means 9. And biasing amount setting means 3
In step 8, the optimum operation amount for reducing the flow rate deviation is determined and outputted to the flow rate adjusting means. In this way, the user can issue instructions in words that are easy to intuitively judge without having to clearly specify the set flow rate, and the user can adjust the flow rate of hot water according to his/her preference.

Effects of the Invention As described above, the hot water supply system of the present invention includes a hot water supply means for producing hot water at an appropriate temperature, a voice input means for inputting a voice instruction from a user, a voice recognition means for recognizing the input voice, and a voice recognition means for recognizing the input voice. The process of starting and stopping the hot water supply using the output signal of the voice recognition means!
an adjustment means, a control rule storage means for storing the relationship between the set flow rate and the words of the flow rate adjustment instruction as a control rule, and a control inference means for inferring from the adjustment instruction signal and the control rule to obtain an optimal flow rate setting value; and a flow rate control means for adjusting the hot water supply flow rate based on the output signal of the control reasoning means, which recognizes an ambiguous instruction signal through the voice input means when the user changes the hot water supply flow rate, and uses the recognition signal and control. By inferring from the rules and determining the optimal flow rate setting value, it is possible to reliably obtain hot water at the desired set flow rate. This eliminates the unpleasant situation of suddenly being exposed to a strong flow of hot water due to an erroneous operation, and it is easy for people with short-sightedness, such as myopic people, to use it, resulting in extremely improved effects.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a water heater according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of the same device, FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the same device, and FIG. 4 is a 23... ...Water supply device, 24...Flow rate tli1 node means, 27...
... Voice input means, 28 ... Voice recognition means, 34 ... Control rule storage means, 35 ...
・Side temperature inference means, 36... Flow rate wI Osen means Name of agent Patent attorney Akira Kokaji Haka 2 people Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5

Claims (1)

[Claims] a hot water supply means for producing hot water at an appropriate temperature for use in the hot water supply means; a voice input means for inputting voice instructions from a user using the hot water supply means; a voice recognition means for recognizing voice signals input from the voice input means; Flow control means for dispensing or stopping the hot water from the hot water supply means or adjusting the flow rate according to the output signal of the voice recognition means, and a control rule memory for storing the relationship between the hot water supply flow rate and the flow rate desired by the user as a control rule. means, control inference means for determining a flow rate setting value desired by the user by inference from the verbal instruction voice signal recognized by the voice recognition means and the control rule, and flow rate control means for adjusting the flow rate to the determined flow rate setting value. A water heater equipped with