JPH05156685A - Feed water controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent malfunctioning of a feed water controller due to external light or the like and prevent mistakes in detection by integrating light-reception outputs, and generating a reflected light detection output when the amount of integrated outputs reaches a preset threshold level. CONSTITUTION:An intermittent light projection type reflection sensor 2 is provided having light projection means 4 provided with a light projecting element 43 and light reception means 5 provided with a light receiving element 51. The reflection sensor 2 is provided with integration means 53 consisting of an integration resistance R, an integration capacitor C, and switches S2, S2, etc., to integrate light-reception outputs. Also, judging means 6 are provided to generate a reflected light detection output when the outputs of the integration means 5 reach a preset threshold level. Thereby malfunctioning of the feed water controller due to external light or the like is prevented and mistakes in detection are avoided unless external light continuously enters synchronously with the timing of the projection of light.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement of a water supply control device having an intermittent projection type reflection sensor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A light receiving element detects the reflected light that is intermittently reflected and returned by a user or the like, and compares the received light level with a preset threshold level with a comparator to reflect the reflected light. A technique for obtaining a detection output is disclosed in JP-A-61-294032.
It is disclosed in the publication.

However, in this configuration, when the detection output of the ambient light exceeds the threshold level, the reflected light detection output is generated, which may cause a false detection.

Therefore, when the reflected light is obtained by a single light projection, the light projection is repeated a plurality of times and the presence or absence of the user is determined based on the number of times the light is received. Techniques for preventing this are disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 2-157332 and 2-157333.

[0005]

However, repeating light projection a plurality of times increases power consumption. Moreover, a counter or the like for counting the number of times of light reception is required, which complicates the circuit configuration.

The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object thereof is to provide a water supply control device having a reflection type sensor capable of preventing erroneous detection with a relatively simple structure without increasing the number of times of light projection. To provide.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the water supply control device according to claim 1 of the present invention comprises an integrating means for integrating the received light output in synchronization with the light projecting timing, and an output of this integrating means. A reflection type sensor provided with a judging means for generating a reflected light detection output when a preset threshold level is reached is provided.

Further, the water supply control device according to the second aspect of the present invention includes an integrating means for integrating the light receiving output in synchronization with the light projecting timing, and a light receiving detecting for detecting that the output of the integrating means has reached a preset threshold level. When a quantity determining means and a light emitting / light receiving timing determining means for determining that the light emitting timing and the light receiving timing are substantially coincident are provided, and a light receiving quantity equal to or more than a predetermined value is obtained in synchronization with the light emitting. In addition, a reflection type sensor having a comprehensive determination means for generating a reflected light detection output is provided.

[0009]

The reflection type sensor of the water supply control device according to the first aspect integrates the light receiving output in synchronization with the light projecting timing, and generates the reflected light detection output when the integrated output exceeds the threshold value.

In the reflection type sensor of the water supply control device according to the second aspect of the invention, the light emitting and receiving timings are substantially the same, and
When the integrated amount of the received light output reaches a predetermined level, the reflected light detection becomes effective.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram of a water supply control device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

The water supply control device 1 comprises a reflection type sensor 2 for detecting a user such as a urinal, which is an object of detection, and a water supply control section 3 for controlling water supply based on a signal from the reflection type sensor 2.

The reflection type sensor 2 comprises a light projecting means 4, a light receiving means 5 and a judging means 6. The light projecting means 4 generates a light projecting pulse generation circuit 41 for generating an intermittent light projecting clock signal 41a having a preset intermittent light projecting cycle (for example, 2 seconds), and a light projecting signal based on the intermittent light projecting clock signal 41a. And a projecting circuit 42 for generating the light.

The light projecting circuit 42 includes a light projecting element 43 such as an infrared light emitting diode and an npn transistor 44.
The emitter resistance 45 is provided, and as described above, the light projecting element 43 is driven with a constant current based on the intermittent light projecting clock signal 41a to generate a light projecting signal. Note that VB indicates a power source.

The light receiving means 5 is a light receiving element 51 such as a PIN photodiode or a phototransistor for receiving the reflected light from the user 7, a first stage amplifier 52, an integrating means 53,
When the level of the integrated output 53a of the integrating means 53 reaches a preset threshold value, a predetermined logic level (for example, H
A comparator 54 that outputs a reflected light detection output signal 54a of (level) is provided.

In this embodiment, the zener diode 55 is provided with an amplitude limiting means to limit the increase of the amplifier output level due to the pulsed disturbance light, which is much larger than the normal light receiving level, so that a large amount of light can be obtained in a short time. It is configured to prevent reaching a predetermined integration amount due to noise.

The integrating means 53 comprises an integrating resistor R, an integrating capacitor C and switches S1 and S2 which are synchronized with the intermittent light projecting clock signal 41a. These switches are connected so that the switch S1 is turned on and the switch S2 is turned off when the light is projected, and the switch S2 is turned on and the switch S2 is turned off when the light is not projected. The capacitor C is charged with a time constant of R and the capacitor C, and the capacitor C is discharged when light is not projected to integrate the input voltage to the integrating means 53.

The comparator 54 inputs the output of the integrating means 53 to one input terminal 54b and the reference voltage serving as a threshold to the other input terminal 54c, and the output of the integrating means 53 exceeds the threshold level. At this time, for example, the H-level reflected light detection output signal 54a is output.

That is, the light receiving means 5 converts and amplifies the light receiving current of the light receiving element 51 into a voltage signal according to the optical power of the light receiving element by the first stage amplifier 52, and the output voltage thereof is integrated by the integrating means 53.
After being integrated by, the signal is input to one terminal 54b of the comparator 54 and the comparison result is output.

The judging means 6 is configured to output the sensing output 6a of a predetermined time length when the H-level reflected light detection output signal 54a is input from the comparator 54, and to output the non-sensing output 6b otherwise. is doing.

The water supply controller 3 comprises a water supply control means 31 for controlling water supply to a urinal or the like based on the sensing output 6a and the non-sensing output 6b from the reflection type sensor 2 and an on-off valve 32. The on-off valve 32 has one end connected to the water supply pipe 33, and the other end connected to a urinal (not shown) via a washing water supply pipe 34.

The on-off valve 32 is a solenoid valve using a so-called latching solenoid as an actuator, which holds a pulsed current at the time of opening and closing the valve and holds the opened or closed state by a spring force or a magnetic force of a permanent magnet otherwise. To do. An actuator that uses a piezoelectric element is provided instead of the solenoid valve that uses a latching solenoid, and the valve opening is changed each time an open or close pulse is applied, and the valve opening at that time is maintained in the non-energized state. A structured valve may be used.

FIG. 3 is a time chart showing the operation of the water supply controller. As shown in FIGS. 3 (a) to 3 (c), the water supply control means 31 determines that the user is present when the sensing output 6a output from the determining circuit 6 continues for a certain time, and the non-sensing output 6b remains for a certain time. When it is continued, it is determined that there is no user.

When it is determined that there is a user, the water supply control means 31 first generates a valve opening pulse 31a to open the opening / closing valve 32 as shown in FIGS. After that, a valve closing pulse 31b is generated to perform pre-wash water supply before use of the urinal in this period.

After that, the water supply control means 31 opens the valve 31 when the determination changes from the presence of the user to the absence of the user.
After generating a, the opening / closing valve 32 is opened for a predetermined time, and then a valve closing pulse 31b is generated to perform post-cleaning water supply.

With the above structure, the water supply control device operates as follows. When the user 7 is not present, the reflected light does not return, so the capacitor C of the integrating means 53 is not charged, so the output 54a of the comparator 54 is at L level and the output of the determining means 6 is the non-sensing output 6b. ..

When the user 7 enters the sensing range of the reflection type sensor 2, the capacitor C of the integrating means 53 is charged in synchronization with the projection timing, and when the output voltage exceeds the threshold value, the sensing output from the judging means 6 is output. 6a is obtained.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the water supply controller according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The same parts are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. In this embodiment, the presence of a user is determined not only by the amount of received light as in the first embodiment, but also by the projection / reception timing of water supply control.

The water supply control device 1 is composed of a reflection type sensor 2 for detecting a user such as a urinal, which is an object of detection, and a water supply control section 3 for controlling water supply based on a signal from the reflection type sensor 2. .. The reflective sensor 2 includes a light projecting unit 4, a light receiving unit 5, a determining unit 6, a determining unit 8, and a comprehensive determining unit 9. The light projecting unit 4 and the water supply control unit 3 are the same as those in the first embodiment, and therefore their explanations are omitted.

The light receiving means 5 includes a light receiving element 51 such as a PIN photodiode or a phototransistor, and a first stage amplifier 52.
An integrating means 53 and an integral output 53 of the integrating means 53
When the level of a reaches a preset threshold value, the reflected light detection output signal 5 of a predetermined logic level (for example, H level)
4A is provided to determine the amount of received light and a comparator 54 is provided. The first stage amplifier 52, the limiter circuit 56, and the waveform shaping circuit 57 are provided to determine the light emitting / receiving timing.

Since the operation for determining the amount of received light is the same as that of the first embodiment, the description thereof will be omitted. However, in the configuration for determining the light emitting / receiving timing, the light receiving current of the light receiving element 51 is changed to the first stage amplifier 52. After converting and amplifying into a voltage signal according to the optical power of the light receiving element, and limiting the amplitude of the output voltage by the limiter circuit 56 so that the signal levels become equal,
The reception signal 5a having a predetermined logic level is output via the waveform shaping circuit 57.

The structure of the judging means 6 is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the sensing output 6a is outputted to one input terminal 9a of the comprehensive judging means (AND circuit) 9 which will be described later, and the non-sensing output 6b.
Is output to the water supply control means 31.

The judging means 8 is a comparison reference signal input terminal 8a.
To the switches S1 and S2 at the same time. The switches S1 are turned on and the switch S2 is turned off during the light projection as in the first embodiment. , The switch S2 is turned on and the switch S2 is turned on when the light is not projected.) Is compared with the reception signal 5a supplied to the reception signal input terminal 8b, and the input reception signal 5a is compared.
Is synchronized with the intermittent light emitting clock signal 41a corresponding to the light emitting signal, and the pulse width of the received signal 5a is substantially equal to the pulse width of the intermittent light emitting clock signal 41a, at the same timing as the intermittent light emitting clock signal 41a. For example, an H-level sensing output 8c having a predetermined time length is output to the other input terminal 9b of the overall determination means (AND circuit) 9, and otherwise the non-sensing output 6b is output to the water supply control means 31 at the same timing. It is configured as follows.

The comprehensive judging means 9 uses, for example, an AND circuit, and when there is the sensing output 6a of the judging means 6 and the sensing output 8c of the judging means 8, that is, when the inputs are all at the H level, the total judging means of the first embodiment is used. The determination detection signal 9c corresponding to the detection output 6a is output to the water supply control means 31.

With the above structure, the water supply control device operates as follows. When the user 7 is not present, the reflected light does not return, so the capacitor C of the integrating means 53 is not charged, so the output 54a of the comparator 54 is at L level and the output of the determining means 6 is the non-sensing output 6b. .. Also,
Since the timings of the intermittent light projecting clock signal 41a and the received signal 5a do not match, the output of the judging means 8 is also the non-sensing output 6b.

When the user 7 enters the sensing range of the reflection type sensor 2, the capacitor C of the integrating means 53 is charged in synchronization with the projection timing, and when the charging voltage exceeds a threshold value, the sensing output from the judging means 6 is output. 6a is output. The light receiving signal 5a that has passed through the limiter circuit 56 and the waveform shaping circuit 57 outputs a sensing output 8c when the judgment means 8 substantially matches the timing with the intermittent light projecting clock signal 41a. When these sensing outputs 6a and 8c are present, the comprehensive judging means 9 obtains the H level judgment sensing signal 9c.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a water supply controller according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The same parts are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. In this embodiment, a modulated signal is added to the light projecting circuit 42.

The water supply control device 1 comprises a reflection type sensor 2 for detecting a user such as a urinal which is a detection target, and a water supply control section 3 for controlling water supply based on a signal from the reflection type sensor 2. .. The reflective sensor 2 includes a light projecting unit 4, a light receiving unit 5, a determining unit 6, a determining unit 8, an overall determining unit 9, and a set / reset type flip-flop (SRF).
F) consists of 10.

The light projecting means 4 includes a light projecting pulse generating means 41,
And a light projecting circuit 44. Projection pulse generation means 41
Is composed of a clock generation circuit 46, a selection means 47 for selecting an intermittent light emission cycle, and an AND circuit 48. FIG. 2 is a time chart showing the light projecting operation of the reflective sensor.

The clock generation circuit 46 divides the master clock generated by using a crystal oscillator, a ceramic oscillator, or the like to divide the carrier clock signal 46a shown in FIGS. A frequency divider circuit for generating the optical clock signal 46b and the intermittent light emitting clock signal 46c at the time of sensing is provided.

In this embodiment, the frequency of the carrier clock signal 41a is about 38 kHz, the intermittent light projecting period during non-sensing is about 2 seconds, and the intermittent light projecting period during sensing is about 1 second. The selecting means 47 is based on the reflected light sensing state signal 10a, and in the non-sensing state, the intermittent light projecting clock signal 46 during non-sensing.
In the sensing state, b is an intermittent light emission clock signal 46 at the time of sensing.
Select c. Selected intermittent light emission clock signal 47a
Is one input terminal 48a of the AND circuit 48 and the integrating means 5
No. 3 switch S1 and the comparison reference signal input terminal 8a of the judging means 8 are supplied.

The carrier clock signal 46a is supplied to the other input terminal 48b of the AND circuit 48, and the intermittent light emitting clock signal 48c modulated by the carrier clock signal 46a is supplied to the light emitting circuit 42 (FIG. 2d or e). ..

The structures of the light projecting circuit 42 and the water supply controller 3 are the same as those in the first and second embodiments, and therefore their explanations are omitted. The light receiving means 5 includes a light receiving element 51 such as a PIN photodiode or a phototransistor, a first stage amplifier 52, an integrating means 53, and a predetermined logic level (when a level of an integrated output 53a of the integrating means 53 reaches a preset threshold value ( For example, a configuration for determining the amount of received light including a comparator 54 that outputs a reflected light detection output signal 54a of H level), a first stage amplifier 52, a limiter circuit 56, a band pass filter (BPF) 58, and detection. The circuit 59 and the waveform shaping circuit 57 are combined to have a conventionally known configuration for determining the light emitting / receiving timing.

In the configuration for determining the light emitting / receiving timing, the limiter circuit 56 limits the output converted / amplified by the first-stage amplifier 52 so that the signal level becomes equal, and then the signal of the carrier frequency component is band-passed. The signal is extracted by the filter (BPF) 58, detected and demodulated by the detection circuit 59, and then the reception signal 5a having a predetermined logic level is output through the waveform shaping circuit 57.

The integrating means 53 comprises a resistor R, a capacitor C, a diode D, and switches S1 and S2. The switch S1 is configured to be turned on when light is projected and turned off when light is not projected according to the carrier clock signal. Further, the switch S2 is normally off, and when the intermittent light projecting clock signal is off, the switch S2 is turned on by the output of the judging means 8. During light projection, the input voltage from the first-stage amplifier 52 is charged into the capacitor C with the time constant of the resistor R and the capacitor C, and during non-light projection, the charging voltage of the capacitor C is held, and the intermittent light emission clock signal 41a.
Is configured to integrate.

The structure of the judging means 6 is similar to that of the first and second embodiments, and when there is the reflected light detection output 54a at the H level, the sensing output 6a is sent to one input terminal 9a of the comprehensive judging means (AND circuit) 9. If not, the non-sensing output 6b is output to the water supply control means 31.

The judging means 8 has a comparison reference signal input terminal 8a.
And the received signal 5a supplied to the received signal input terminal 8b are compared, and the input received signal 5a is synchronized with the intermittent projected clock signal 41a corresponding to the projected signal. When the pulse width of the received signal 5a is substantially equal to the pulse width of the intermittent light projecting clock signal 41a, the sensing output 8c (H level) is sent to the set input terminal of the flip-flop 10 at the same timing as the intermittent light projecting clock signal 41a. S is output to the other input terminal 9b of the overall determination means (AND circuit) 9, and otherwise the non-sensing output 6b is output to the water supply control means 31 at the same timing.

The comprehensive judging means 9 uses, for example, an AND circuit, and when the sensing output 6a of the judging means 6 and the sensing output 8c of the judging means 8, that is, when both inputs are at the H level, the sensing of the first embodiment. The determination sensing signal 9c corresponding to the output 6a is supplied to the water supply control means 31 and the S input terminal of the flip-flop 10.

The flip-flop 10 supplies the sensing output 8c to the set input terminal S and the non-sensing state confirmation signal 31c to the reset input terminal R, so that the reflected light from the user 7 is sensed from the point of time. Until it disappears
The output terminal Q is configured to output the reflected light sensing state signal 10a.

With the above configuration, the water supply control device operates as follows. When the user 7 is not present, the reflected light sensing state signal 10a of the flip-flop 10 is at the L level, and the selecting means 47 is based on this signal and the selecting means 47 has the intermittent light projecting period T.
The light is modulated for each time by the carrier clock. At this time, since the reflected light does not return, the integrating means 53
The capacitor C is not charged and held, therefore the output 54a of the comparator 54 is at L level and the output of the judging means 6 is the non-sensing output 6b. Further, since the intermittent light emitting clock signal 41a of the cycle T does not coincide with the received signal 5a in timing, the output of the judging means 8 is also the non-sensing output 6b.

When the user 7 enters the sensing range of the reflection type sensor 2, the capacitor C of the integrating means 53 is charged and held at the carrier clock cycle in synchronization with the projection timing, and the output voltage thereof becomes the threshold value. (For example, 70
%), The determination means 6 outputs the sensing output 6a. The light receiving signal 5a that has passed through the limiter circuit 56 and the waveform shaping circuit 57 outputs a sensing output 8c when the judgment means 8 substantially matches the timing with the intermittent light projecting clock signal 41a. When these sensing outputs 6a and 8c are present, the comprehensive judging means 9 outputs the H-level judging sensing signal 9c.

In the above embodiment, an example using infrared light was shown, but the present invention is not limited to this, and similar means and effects can be obtained by using other means such as ultrasonic waves.

[0053]

As described above, the reflection type sensor of the water supply control device according to the first aspect integrates the light receiving output in synchronization with the light projecting timing, and generates the reflected light detection output when the integrated output exceeds the threshold value. However, since the integration operation is performed only at the time of light projection, there is no malfunction due to disturbance light or the like other than the light projection timing. Further, since the reflected light detection is enabled when a predetermined integrated output is obtained in synchronization with the projection timing, erroneous detection does not occur unless ambient light is continuously mixed in synchronization with the projection timing.

Further, in the reflection type sensor of the water supply control device according to the second aspect, the timing of projecting and receiving light is substantially the same,
In addition, since the reflected light detection is enabled when the integrated amount (charging voltage) of the received light output reaches a predetermined level, erroneous detection does not occur unless ambient light is continuously mixed in synchronization with the light projection timing.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram of a water supply control device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a time chart showing a light projecting operation of a reflective sensor.

FIG. 3 is a time chart showing the operation of the water supply control unit.

FIG. 4 is a block configuration diagram of a water supply control device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block configuration diagram of a water supply control device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Water supply control device, 2 ... Reflective sensor, 3 ... Water supply control part, 4 ... Light projecting means, 5 ... Light receiving means, 6 ... Judging means, 7 ...
User, 8 ... Judgment means, 9 ... Overall judgment means, 10 ... Flip-flop, 31 ... Water supply control means, 32 ... Open / close valve, 3
3 ... Water supply pipe, 34 ... Washing water supply pipe, 41 ... Emitting pulse generating circuit, 42 ... Emitting circuit, 43 ... Emitting element, 44 ... Transistor, 45 ... Emitter resistance, 46 ... Transistor, 4
7 ... Selection means, 48 ... AND circuit, 51 ... Light receiving element, 5
2 ... First stage amplifier, 53 ... Integrating means, 54 ... Comparator, 55
... Zener diode, 56 ... Limiter circuit, 57 ... Waveform shaping circuit, 58 ... Band pass filter (BPF), 59
… Detection circuit.

Front page continuation (72) Inventor Miki Ueki 2-1-1 Nakajima, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture Totoki Equipment Co., Ltd. (72) Tomohiro Nishi Nishi 2-1-1, Nakajima, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka No. 1 Totoki Equipment Co., Ltd.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A water supply control device having an intermittent light projecting type reflective sensor, wherein the reflective sensor integrates light reception output in synchronization with light projecting timing, and a threshold value preset by the output of this integrating means. A water supply control device comprising a determination means for generating a reflected light detection output when the level is reached. 2. A water supply control device having an intermittent light projection type reflection sensor, wherein the reflection sensor integrates light reception output in synchronization with light projection timing, and an output of this integration means has a preset threshold value. A light receiving amount determining means for determining that the level has been reached is provided, and a light emitting / light receiving timing determining means for determining that the light emitting timing and the timing at which the light receiving output is obtained are substantially the same, A water supply control device comprising a comprehensive determination means for generating a reflected light detection output when the amount of received light exceeds a predetermined threshold and the timings of light projection and light reception are substantially coincident with each other.