JPH05247980A - Water supply controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce power consumption, and to economize water by automatically setting a flood period at a long value when the state, in which a user is not sensed, is continued for a prolonged time and determining a water supply time on the basis of the flood period and the operating time of a stool. CONSTITUTION:A sensing section 2 detecting the reflection signal of a signal intermittently floodlit at a specified period and sensing the presence of the user 6 of a stool and a water supply control section 3 conducting washing and water supply to the stool on the basis of a sensing signal from the sensing section 2 are mounted. A non-sensing-state continuation timer 9 is set up to the sensing section 2, and a duration under the state, in which the user 6 is not sensed, is monitored. When the non-sensing state is continued for a preset time, the period of intermittent floodlighting is lengthened by an intermittent- flood period changeover means 10. When water is supplied, the water supply control section 3 is controlled on the basis of a flood period and the operating time of the stool during that time, and a water supply time is determined.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a water supply control device for automatically supplying water to a toilet bowl by sensing the presence of a user based on the reflected light (signal) of light (signal) emitted intermittently. Particularly, it relates to improvement of a water supply control device for reducing power consumption.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In order to reduce the power consumption required for sensing a user, a technique for intermittently projecting infrared light from a light projecting element of a sensing section at a cycle of several seconds to reduce the number of times of projecting light is disclosed in JP-A-61- Two
It is described in Japanese Patent No. 94032.

Further, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-156446, the light projection cycle when the human body is being detected is made shorter than the light projection cycle when the human body is not being detected to reduce the number of times of light projection. A technique for reducing power consumption by that amount is disclosed.

[0004]

However, flush toilets installed in companies, factories, etc. may not be used for a long time at night or on holidays.

Therefore, it is desired to further extend the light projecting period to reduce the power consumption in such a period, but there is a problem that it is extremely troublesome to switch the period manually. The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and its purpose is to reduce the power consumption by automatically setting a long projection period when a state in which the user is not sensed continues for a long time, An object of the present invention is to provide a water supply control device for saving water by supplying water for a period of time determined based on the projection period and the usage time of the toilet during water supply.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the water supply control apparatus according to the present invention is provided with a non-sensing continuation timer means for monitoring the duration of a state in which the user is not sensed, and the non-sensing state is previously detected. When the water supply is continued, the intermittent transmission cycle switching means for setting the intermittent transmission cycle longer than the predetermined cycle when the set time is continued is provided, and the intermittent transmission cycle and the usage time of the toilet set by the intermittent transmission cycle switching means are provided. Based on this, the water supply control unit is controlled to determine the water supply time.

[0007]

According to the present invention, when the state in which the user is not sensed continues for a long time, the light projecting cycle is automatically set to be long, and at the time of water supply, water is supplied only for a time determined based on this light projecting cycle and the usage time of the toilet.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, using an infrared light sensor as an example. FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram of a water supply control device according to the present invention.

The water supply controller 1 comprises a sensor 2 for detecting the user of the water washing device to be detected, and a water controller 3 for controlling water supply based on a signal from the sensor.

The sensing section 2 comprises a light projecting section 4, a light receiving section 5, a judging circuit 7, a flip-flop 8, a non-sensing state continuation timer means 9, and an intermittent light projecting cycle switching stopping means 10.

The light projecting section 4 includes a clock generating circuit 41, a selecting circuit 42 for selecting an intermittent light projecting period, and an AND circuit 43.
And a light projecting circuit 44. FIG. 2 is a time chart showing the timing of light projection.

The clock generation circuit 41 divides the master clock generated by using a crystal oscillator or the like and divides the master clock as shown in FIG.
The carrier clock signal 41a shown in (d), intermittent light projection clock signals 41b and 41c at the time of non-sensing having different cycles, and a frequency dividing circuit (not shown) for generating the intermittent light projection clock signal 41d at the time of sensing are 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 10 seconds and 2 seconds, and the intermittent light projecting period during sensing is about 1 second.

The selection circuit 42, based on the reflected light sensing state signal 8a supplied from the flip-flop 8, in the non-sensing state, first, the intermittent light-emission clock signal 4 with a period of 2 seconds in the non-sensing state.
1c is an intermittent light emission clock signal 4 at the time of sensing in the sensing state.
Select 1d. Selected intermittent light emission clock signal 42
a is one input terminal of the AND circuit 43 and the judgment circuit 7
Is supplied to the comparison reference signal input terminal 7a.

A carrier clock signal 41a is supplied to the other input terminal of the AND circuit 43, and the intermittent light emitting clock signal 43a is modulated by the carrier clock signal 41a.
Is supplied to the light projecting circuit 44 (FIG. 2d or e).

The light projecting circuit 44 comprises a light projecting element 45 such as an infrared light emitting diode, an npn transistor 46, and a constant current drive section comprising an emitter resistor 47 which determines the light projecting current in the non-sensing state.

The light receiving section 5 includes a light receiving element 51 such as a PIN photodiode or a phototransistor, a first stage amplifier 52 which is a current-voltage conversion circuit, a limiter circuit 53, a band pass filter (BPF) 54, and a detection circuit 55. It has a conventionally known configuration in which a waveform shaping circuit 56 is combined.
That is, the light receiving current of the light receiving element 51 is converted into a voltage by the first stage amplifier 52, and the amplitude of the output voltage thereof is limited by the limiter circuit 53.
After being limited by, the signal of the carrier frequency component is extracted by the band pass filter (BPF) 54. Furthermore, the detection circuit 5
After demodulating at 5, the reception signal 5a having a predetermined logic level is output via the waveform shaping circuit 56.

The judgment circuit 7 includes a comparison reference signal input terminal 7a.
And the received signal 5a supplied to the received signal input terminal 7b are compared, and the input received signal 5a is synchronized with the intermittent projected clock signal 42a 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 emitting clock signal 42a, the carrier clock signal 41a is, for example, a predetermined time after the rising time of the intermittent light emitting clock signal 42a.
The sensing output 7c of a predetermined time length at the same timing as
(see e), and otherwise outputs the non-sensing output 7d (see FIG. 2d) at the same timing.

The flip-flop 8 is a set / reset type flip-flop (hereinafter referred to as an RS flip-flop), and the RS is used while the user 6 or the like is being sensed.
The sense output 7 is applied to the set input terminal S of the flip-flop 8.
The reflected light sensing state signal 8a is output from the output terminal Q of the RS flip-flop 8 by supplying a non-sensing state determination signal 31a described later to the reset input terminal R.

The non-sensing state continuation timer means 9 fetches the intermittent light emitting clock signal 42a supplied to the input terminal 9a and starts counting by a counter (not shown), and the non-sensing output 7d is inputted to the reset terminal 9b. At this point, the counter is reset and the next count is started.

The intermittent light emission stopping means 10 takes in the signal 9c from the non-sensing state continuation timer means 9 and generates an intermittent light emission cycle switching signal 10a when the count number continues for a preset value (predetermined time) or more. From that time point, it is configured to switch to the intermittent light emitting clock signal 41b at the time of non-sensing of a preset period of 10 seconds.

The water supply control unit 3 comprises a water supply control means 31 for controlling the water supply to the flushing device such as a urinal based on the sensing output 7c and the non-sensing output 7d from the sensing unit 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 flushing device (not shown) such as a urinal via the cleaning water supply pipe 34.

The on-off valve 31 is a solenoid valve which uses 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 instead of the solenoid valve that uses a latching solenoid is provided, and the valve opening is changed each time an open or close pulse is applied. A valve having a retaining structure may be used.

The water supply controller 3 generates a valve opening pulse based on the intermittent light projection period when the sensor is not sensed and the duration of use of the toilet (the time from the presence of the user until the determination changes without the user) before closing the valve. Determine the interval until the pulse is generated. For example, this interval is about 1/3 when the cycle is 10 seconds and the usage time is long when the cycle is 2 seconds and the usage time is short.

Further, the next intermittent light projection cycle at the time of non-sensing is determined based on the intermittent light projection cycle at the time of non-sensing and the non-use time of the toilet (time until the judgment changes from the absence of the user to the presence of the user). You may do it.

FIG. 3 is a time chart showing the operation of the water supply controller. As shown in Figures 3a-c, the water supply control means 3
When the sensing output 7c output from the determination circuit 7 continues for a certain period of time, it is determined that there is a user, and when the non-sensing output 7d continues for a certain period of time, there is no user.

When the water supply control means 31 determines that there is a user, as shown in FIGS.
b is generated, the on-off valve 32 is opened, and after a preset minute time has elapsed, a valve closing pulse 31c is generated and pre-wash water supply before use of the water washer is performed during this period.

After that, the water supply control means 31 opens the valve 31 when the judgment changes from the presence of the user to the absence of the user.
b is generated and the on-off valve 32 is opened for a predetermined time set under the above-mentioned conditions, and then a valve closing pulse 31c is generated to perform post-cleaning water supply. At the same time, the water supply control means 31 outputs the non-sensing state confirmation signal 31a shown in FIG. 3d.

With the above structure, the water supply control device operates as follows. R- when no user is detected
The reflected light sensing state signal 8a, which is the Q output of the S flip-flop 8, is at the L level, and the selection circuit 42 selects the intermittent light emitting clock signal 41c at the time of non-sensing based on the reflected light sensing state signal 8a. Light is modulated by the carrier clock signal 41a for each of the selected intermittent light emitting cycles T.

When the light receiving section 5 receives the reflected light and senses the presence of the user 6 or the like, it outputs the sensing output 7c to set the input terminal S of the RS flip-flop 8 and the reflected light sensing state signal which is the Q output. 8a becomes H level. As a result, the selection circuit 42 is switched to the intermittent light emission clock signal 41d at the time of sensing, and the sensing interval is shortened to T / 2.

The water supply controller 3 performs pre-cleaning water supply when the sensing output 7c detects that the user 6 is approaching, and the non-sensing output 7d detects when the user 6 is leaving. The post-cleaning water supply is performed based on the intermittent light projection cycle and the toilet usage time when the user 6 or the like is not detected immediately before the approach is detected. Note that the pre-wash water supply may not be performed.

The non-sensing state continuation timer means 9 is reset by the non-sensing output 7d and counts the intermittent light emitting clock signal 41c at the time of non-sensing. When the predetermined state elapses after the user has left, that is, when the timer of the non-sensing state continuation timer means 9 reaches a preset value, from that time point, the intermittent light emission period is about 10 seconds. ..

Incidentally, the intermittent light projecting period at the time of non-sensing is 10
There is no need to stick to the second, and there is no problem in hygiene unless it is set longer than the average use time (usually 30 to 40 seconds) of a urinal or the like, so it may be set arbitrarily within that range.

In this embodiment, the configuration example using the individual parts is shown, but various clock signal generation and reception signal 5
The judgment circuit 7 of a, the water supply control means 31 and the like may realize those functions by stored program control using, for example, a 4-bit 1-chip microcomputer.

[0035]

As described above, according to the water supply control device of the present invention, when the state in which the user is not sensed continues for a long time, the light emission cycle is automatically lengthened to reduce the power consumption. In addition to this, it is possible to save water by supplying water for a time determined based on this light projection cycle and the usage time of the toilet.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a time chart showing the operation of the sensing unit of the water supply control device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a time chart showing the operation of the water supply control unit of the water supply control device according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Water supply control device, 2 ... Sensing part, 3 ... Water supply control part, 4 ...
Light emitting unit, 5 ... Light receiving unit, 6 ... User, 7 ... Judgment circuit, 8 ...
Set / reset type flip-flop (RS flip-flop), 9 ... Non-sensing state continuation timer, 10 ... Intermittent light emission cycle switching means, 31 ... Water supply control means, 32 ... Open / close valve,
33 ... Water supply pipe, 34 ... Washing water supply pipe, 41 ... Clock generation circuit, 42 ... Selection circuit, 43 ... AND circuit, 44 ... Emitting circuit, 45 ... Emitting element, 46, 83 ... Transistor, 4
7, 82, 84 ... Resistor, 51 ... Photodetector, 52 ... First stage amplifier, 53 ... Limiter circuit, 54 ... Bandpass filter (BPF), 55 ... Detection circuit, 56 ... Waveform shaping 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 (3)

[Claims] 1. A sensing unit for sensing the presence of a user of the toilet by detecting a reflected signal of a signal intermittently transmitted at a predetermined cycle, and washing water is supplied to the toilet based on the sensing signal from the sensing unit. In a water supply control device including a water supply control unit,
A non-sensing continuation timer means for monitoring the duration of a state in which the user is not sensed is provided, and when the non-sensing state continues for a preset time, the intermittent transmission cycle is set to be longer than the predetermined cycle. A water supply control device comprising a switching means, wherein the water supply control section is controlled based on the intermittent transmission cycle set by the intermittent transmission cycle switching means and the operating time of the toilet when the water is supplied. .. 2. The water supply control device according to claim 1, wherein the long intermittent transmission cycle is set so as not to exceed an average time required to use a toilet bowl. 3. The long intermittent transmission cycle can be selectively changed according to the duration of the non-sensing state within the range of the average time required to use the toilet bowl. Water supply control device.