JPH05280081A - Automatic cleaning control device for sanitary device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To normally operate even if there is a noise source such as an inverter or a fluorescent lamp. CONSTITUTION:A human detecting sensor 6 detects the user of a sanitary device. Cleaner is supplied to the sanitary device when an electromagnetic opening/ closing valve 4 is opened. The electromagnetic opening/closing valve 4 is driven by a valve drive circuit 21. By controlling the valve drive circuit 21 by means of a microcomputer 22 based on the detection of the human detecting sensor 6, the electromagnetic opening/closing valve 4 is controlled so as to supply cleaner to the sanitary device. By selecting anti-noise mode with a switch S, an emission signal of duty 50% in 38 KHZ from an emission drive circuit 23 by 12 pulse output. An emission element 6b emits light based on the emission signal. This emission signal is different from emission of an inverter or a fluorescent lamp in frequency so as not to be influenced from it. A user can be detected by detecting the reflected light of the projected light from the emission element 6b by a light receiving element 6a.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic cleaning control device for various sanitary appliances such as flush toilets and wash basins.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in flushing urinals for men (hereinafter referred to as "morning glory") such as public toilets, a device for automatically cleaning the morning glory has been used.

That is, a person who intends to add a small use (hereinafter,
When the user) stands in front of the morning glory, it detects it and flushes the morning glory with water for a certain period of time. This makes it possible for the user to comfortably add small amounts and keeps the morning glory from getting dirty. Then, when the user finishes applying the small amount and leaves from the front of the morning glory, it is detected and water is flushed for a certain period of time to wash the morning glory.

A reflection type optical sensor is used for detecting that the user stands in front of the morning glory and for detecting that the user has left the morning glory. That is, the light emitting element of the light sensor projects light in front of the morning glory, and the light receiving element of the light sensor detects the reflected light. When the user stands in front of the morning glory, the projection light from the light emitting element is reflected by the user. On the other hand, when there is nobody in front of the morning glory, the projected light from the light emitting element does not reflect and the light receiving element cannot detect the reflected light. Therefore, the presence of the user can be detected by detecting the presence or absence of the reflected light.

In such an automatic cleaning control device, conventionally, a battery such as a lithium battery is used as a power source. When a battery is used as a power source, it is general to project light from a light emitting element intermittently and use the projected light as a one-shot pulse. As a result, battery consumption is suppressed, battery life is extended, and battery replacement work is reduced.

[0006]

By the way, in recent years, an inverter fluorescent lamp has come to be used as illumination for a washroom. In the inverter fluorescent lamp, the lighting frequency is set to 30 KHz or less or 45 KHz or more by inverter control.

The lighting of the inverter fluorescent lamp causes a disturbance (noise source) in the conventional automatic cleaning control device and causes a malfunction. That is, the light receiving element erroneously detects the lighting of the inverter fluorescent lamp as reflected light. Then, the automatic cleaning control device erroneously detects that the user is standing even when no one is in front of the morning glory, and performs the automatic cleaning operation.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to perform automatic cleaning control of sanitary equipment that can operate normally even with a light emitter such as an inverter fluorescent lamp. The object is to provide the device with a simple configuration.

[0009]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention detects a user by projecting light on the user of a sanitary appliance and by detecting the reflected light. The human detection means, the cleaning body supply means for supplying the cleaning body to the sanitary equipment, the drive means for driving the cleaning body supply means, and the drive means controlled based on the detection by the human detection means In an automatic cleaning control device for sanitary equipment, comprising a control means for controlling the cleaning body supply means so that the cleaning body is supplied to the equipment for a fixed time, a noise resistant mode selecting means and a noise resistant mode selecting means are used. The gist of the invention is to provide a light emission control means for projecting light from the human detection means for a predetermined number of times in a predetermined cycle when the noise resistant mode is selected.

[0010]

When the noise-proof mode is selected, the human detecting means projects light for a predetermined number of times in a predetermined cycle and for a predetermined time width. Therefore, by appropriately adjusting the period, the number of times, and the time width of the projection of the light, even if there is a light-emitting body other than the human detecting means, the human detecting means does not receive the influence of the disturbance and the human detecting means projects its own light. The reflected light of the light can be accurately detected, and the user of the sanitary appliance can be reliably detected.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment embodying the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS.
This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 shows an attachment state of the morning glory 1 of this embodiment.

The morning glory 1 is attached to the front side of the wall surface 2 of the washroom, and the water supply pipe 3 connected to the morning glory 1 has an electromagnetic opening / closing valve 4 attached thereto.
Are connected. When the electromagnetic opening / closing valve 4 is opened, the washing water is supplied from the water supply pipe 3 to the bosh 1. On the contrary, when the electromagnetic opening / closing valve 4 is closed, the supply of washing water from the water supply pipe 3 to the bosh 1 is shut off.

The control box 5 is a wall surface 2 slightly above the morning glory 1.
Is attached to the back side of the control box 5, and the surface plate 5a of the control box 5 is attached to the wall surface 2
Is exposed to. The front plate 5a is provided with a human detection sensor 6 including a light emitting element 6a and a light receiving element 6b.
A controller 7 and a battery 8 are provided inside.

FIG. 1 shows an electric block circuit diagram of the automatic cleaning control apparatus of this embodiment. The battery 8 supplies power to the constant voltage circuit 20 and the valve drive circuit 21 in the controller 7.

The constant voltage circuit 20 is composed of a three-terminal regulator, and includes a microcomputer (hereinafter abbreviated as a microcomputer) 22 in the controller 7, a light emission drive circuit 23,
A stable DC voltage is supplied to each of the oscillation circuit 24 and the switching circuits 25 and 26.

The microcomputer 22 is a central processing unit (CP
U), a read-only memory (ROM) that stores a control program, a readable and writable memory (RAM) that temporarily stores the results of detection operation and timer operation described below, and an input / output interface.

The oscillator circuit 24 outputs a clock to the microcomputer 22. The timer 22a in the microcomputer 22 performs timer operation based on the clock. The valve drive circuit 21 opens and closes the electromagnetic on-off valve 4 composed of a self-holding solenoid valve based on a command signal from the microcomputer 22. That is, each time the valve drive circuit 21 outputs a pulsed timing signal, the open / closed state of the electromagnetic on-off valve 4 is switched, and when the timing signal is not output, the previous open / closed state is maintained as it is.

A mode changeover switch S is connected to the microcomputer 22. By switching the switch S, the power saving mode and the noise resistant mode can be switched and selected.

The switching circuits 25 and 26 are on / off controlled based on a command signal from the microcomputer 22. That is, only the switching circuit 25 is on / off controlled in the power saving mode, and both switching circuits 25 and 26 are simultaneously on / off controlled in the noise resistant mode. Then, the switching circuit 25 supplies the power supplied from the constant voltage circuit 20 when it is turned on to the light receiving circuit 27.
The power supply to the light receiving circuit 27 is cut off when it is turned off. Further, the switching circuit 26 supplies the power supplied from the constant voltage circuit 20 to the light receiving circuit 28 when turned on, and cuts off the power supply to the light receiving circuit 28 when turned off. Therefore,
Only the light receiving circuit 27 can operate in the power saving mode, and both light receiving circuits 27, 28 can operate in the noise resistant mode.
Can work together.

The light emission drive circuit 23, based on a command signal from the microcomputer 22, emits light from the light emitting element 6 including a light emitting diode.
A light emitting operation for emitting a is performed. That is, in the power saving mode, the light emission drive circuit 23 outputs a light emission signal which is a one-shot pulse having a pulse width of 30 μsec, and the light emitting element 6a emits light only once based on the light emission signal. Further, in the noise resistant mode, the light emission drive circuit 23 is
A light emission signal with a duty of 50% is output for 12 pulses at KHz, and the light emitting element 6a emits light 12 times based on the light emission signal.

When the user stands in front of the morning glory 1, the projection light from the light emitting element 6a is reflected by the user.
Then, the light receiving element 6b including the phototransistor is
The reflected light is detected and a detection signal is output. On the other hand, when the user is not standing in front of the morning glory 1, the projection light from the light emitting element 6a is not reflected, and the light receiving element 6b cannot detect the reflected light, and thus does not output the detection signal.

The light receiving circuit 27 comprises an amplifier 29 and a waveform shaping circuit 30, and operates only when the switching circuit 25 is on. The amplifier 29 amplifies the detection signal of the light receiving element 6b. The waveform shaping circuit 30 waveform-shapes the detection signal of the light receiving element 6b amplified by the amplifier 29, and outputs it to the microcomputer 22.

The light receiving circuit 28 comprises a bandpass filter 31 and a waveform shaping circuit 32, and operates only when the switching circuit 26 is on. Bandpass filter 31
Of the detection signals of the light receiving element 6b amplified by the amplifier 29, only the 38 KHz signal is filtered and passed. The waveform shaping circuit 30 shapes the output signal of the bandpass filter 31 and outputs it to the microcomputer 22.

FIG. 3 is a waveform diagram in the power saving mode. FIG. 4 is a waveform diagram in the noise resistant mode. In the power saving mode, a pulsed output signal corresponding to the light emission signal of the one-shot pulse is output from the waveform shaping circuit 30 (light receiving circuit 27) to the microcomputer 22.
On the other hand, in the noise resistant mode, the same output signal as in the power saving mode is output from the light receiving circuit 27 to the microcomputer 22, and the waveform shaping circuit 32 (light receiving circuit 28) is output for the time corresponding to 12 pulses of the 38 KHz light emission signal. The output signal from is output to the microcomputer 22.

Based on the output signals of the respective light receiving circuits 27 and 28, the microcomputer 22 detects whether or not the user is standing in front of the morning glory 1. Then, the microcomputer 22 determines “person detection” if standing and “person non-detection” if standing, and stores the determination result in the RAM. Hereinafter, a series of operations of the microcomputer 22 will be referred to as a detection operation. still,
This detection operation is performed every second according to the timer operation of the timer 22a. Then, the microcomputer 22 controls the timer 22a and the valve drive circuit 21 based on the determination result of the current detection operation and the determination result of the previous detection operation stored in the RAM.

That is, the microcomputer 22 resets the timer 22a and outputs a command signal to the valve drive circuit 21 when the present determination result is "human detection" and the previous determination result is "human non-detection". The electromagnetic on-off valve 4 is opened for 1 second to perform the pre-cleaning process. In addition, the microcomputer 22 determines that the present determination result is “non-detection” and the previous determination result is “person detection”.
In this case, the timer 22a is reset, and a command signal is output to the valve drive circuit 21 to open the electromagnetic on-off valve 4 for 5 seconds to perform the post-cleaning process. Further, the microcomputer 22 resets the timer 22a one second after the timer 22a starts the timer operation when both the present and previous determination results are "human detection" or "human non-detection".

FIG. 5 is a time chart of the pre-cleaning process and the post-cleaning process in the power saving mode. FIG. 6 is a time chart of the pre-cleaning process and the post-cleaning process in the noise resistant mode.

In both modes, the light emitting operation is performed intermittently. Each switching circuit 2 is synchronized with the light emitting operation.
5, 26 are on / off controlled. However, in the power saving mode, the switching circuit 26 does not operate, and only the switching circuit 26 operates. On the other hand, in the noise resistant mode, both switching circuits 25 and 26 operate together.

Next, the operation of the above automatic cleaning control device will be described with reference to the flow charts shown in FIGS. First, in step (hereinafter referred to as “S”) 1, the operator selects a mode changeover switch S when the automatic cleaning control device is installed.
Operate to set the power saving mode or noise resistant mode. That is, the noise resistant mode is selected when the inverter fluorescent lamp is used as the illumination for the washroom, and the power saving mode is selected when the inverter fluorescent lamp is not used. Then, the process proceeds to S2.

At S2, the microcomputer 22 causes the timer 22 to
The timer operation of a is started. Then, the process proceeds to S3. In S3, the microcomputer 22 determines the mode set by the mode changeover switch S. And
In the power saving mode, the process proceeds to S4, and in the noise resistant mode, the process proceeds to S5.

At S4, the microcomputer 22 performs a power saving mode process. FIG. 8 shows a flowchart of the power saving mode process. First, in S21, the microcomputer 22 enables only the switching circuit 25 and turns it on to operate only the light receiving circuit 27. And S2
Move to 2.

In S22, the microcomputer 22 causes the light emission drive circuit 23 to output a light emission signal which is a one-shot pulse having a pulse width of 30 μsec. The light emitting element 6a emits light only once based on the light emission signal. Then, the process proceeds to S23.

In S23, the microcomputer 22 determines whether or not the light receiving element 6b receives the reflected light of the projection light of the light emitting element 6a. That is, if the output signal as shown in FIG. 3 is output from the light receiving circuit 27, the microcomputer 22 determines that the user is standing in front of the morning glory 1 and determines that it is “human detection”, and proceeds to S24. Further, if no output signal is output from the light receiving circuit 27, the microcomputer 22 performs "human non-detection".
Then, the process proceeds to S25.

In S24, the microcomputer 22 stores the determination result of "human detection" in the RAM. And S2
Go to 6. On the other hand, in S25, the microcomputer 22 stores the determination result of "non-person detection" in the RAM. Then, the process proceeds to S26.

In S26, the microcomputer 22 turns off the switching circuit 25 to stop the operation of the light receiving circuit 27. This completes the routine of the power saving mode processing, and shifts to S6.

Further, in S5, the microcomputer 22 performs noise resistant mode processing. FIG. 9 shows a flowchart of the noise resistant mode processing. First, in S31, the microcomputer 22 activates both switching circuits 25 and 26 to turn them on, thereby operating both light receiving circuits 27 and 28. Then, the process proceeds to S32.

In S32, the microcomputer 22 causes the light emission drive circuit 23 to output a light emission signal with a duty of 50% at 38 KHz for only 12 pulses. The light emitting element 6a emits light 12 times based on the light emission signal. Then, the process proceeds to S33.

In S33, the microcomputer 22 determines whether or not the light receiving element 6b receives the reflected light of the projection light of the light emitting element 6a. That is, if the output signal as shown in FIG. 4 is output from the light receiving circuit 27, it is determined that the user is standing in front of the morning glory 1 and "human detection" is determined, and the process proceeds to S34. If no output signal is output from the light receiving circuit 27, it is determined to be "non-human detection", and the process proceeds to S35.

In S34, the microcomputer 22 stores the determination result of "human detection" in the RAM. And S3
Go to 6. On the other hand, in S35, the microcomputer 22 stores the determination result "non-person detection" in the RAM. Then, the process proceeds to S36.

At S36, the microcomputer 22 turns off both the switching circuits 25 and 26 to stop the operation of both the light receiving circuits 27 and 28. This completes the routine of the noise resistant mode processing, and shifts to S6.

In S6, if the current determination result stored in the RAM in the power saving mode process of S4 or the noise resistant mode process of S5 is "human detection", the process proceeds to S7.
In the case of "non-detection", the process proceeds to S8.

In S7, if the determination result in the previous detection operation stored in the RAM is "human non-detection", the process proceeds to S9, and if "person detection", the process proceeds to S10. In S9, the microcomputer 22 resets the timer 22a.
Then, the process proceeds to S11.

In S11, the microcomputer 22 outputs a command signal to the valve drive circuit 21 to open the electromagnetic on-off valve 4 for 1 second to perform a pre-cleaning process. That is, when a user who wants to take a small dose stands in front of the morning glory 1, washing water is supplied from the water supply pipe 3 to the morning glory 1 for only one second, and the morning glory 1 is washed before the small dose. Then, the process returns to S2.

On the other hand, in S8, if the determination result in the previous detection operation stored in the RAM is "non-human detection", S8.
If it is "person detection", the process proceeds to S12.
In S12, the microcomputer 22 resets the timer 22a. Then, the process proceeds to S13.

In S13, the microcomputer 22 outputs a command signal to the valve drive circuit 21 to open the electromagnetic on-off valve 4 for 5 seconds, and the post-cleaning process is performed. That is, when the user who has finished adding small doses leaves from the front of the morning glory 1, washing water is supplied from the water supply pipe 3 to the morning glory 1 for 5 seconds to wash the morning glory 1.
Then, the process returns to S2.

Further, in S10, the microcomputer 22
After starting the timer operation, it is determined whether or not the time measured by the timer 22a has exceeded 1 second. Then, if 1 second or more has elapsed, the process proceeds to S14, and if less than 1 second has elapsed, waits until 1 second has elapsed.

Then, in S14, the microcomputer 22 resets the timer 22a and returns to S2. That is,
When the user who is trying to add a small amount of light does not appear in front of morning glory 1 and one second has elapsed, the detection operation is repeated. Further, if the user who intends to add the small amount of standing stands in front of the morning glory 1 for 1 second or more, it is determined that the small amount is in use and the detection operation is repeated again.

As described above, in this embodiment, the noise resistant mode is selected when the inverter fluorescent lamp is used as the lighting for the washroom during the construction, and the power saving is performed when the inverter fluorescent lamp is not used. You can select the mode.

In each mode, when the user stands in front of the morning glory 1, the morning glory 1 is washed (pre-cleaning process), and when the user finishes the small amount and leaves from the morning glory 1 again, the morning glory 1 is washed again. It is designed to be washed (post-washing treatment).

When the power saving mode is selected, the power consumption is small as in the conventional example, the consumption of the battery is suppressed, and the battery life is extended, so that the labor of battery replacement is reduced. On the other hand, in the noise resistant mode, the lighting frequency of the inverter fluorescent lamp (30 KHz or less, or 45 KHz or more)
In addition to using the emission signal of 38 KHz out of the range, the detection signal of the light receiving element 6b is filtered by the band pass filter 31 of 38 KHz.

Further, since 12 pulses of the 38 KHz light emission signal are output, the light emitting element 6a emits light 12 times. Therefore, even if the projected light of the 12 times of the projected light is not reflected for some reason and cannot be received by the light receiving element 6b, the projected light of the several times can be reliably received.

Therefore, when the noise resistant mode is selected, the lighting of the inverter fluorescent lamp is not mistaken as the reflected light of the projection light from the light emitting element 6a. As a result, the automatic cleaning operation can be accurately performed without being affected by the inverter fluorescent lamp. Further, even when some light emitter other than the inverter fluorescent lamp, that is, a noise source is in the washroom, the automatic washing operation can be performed accurately in the same manner.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but may be carried out as follows, for example. 1) Not only the morning glory 1 but also an automatic cleaning control device for various sanitary appliances such as a washbasin. FIG. 10 is a partially cutaway side view showing a mounting state when embodied in a wash basin. The washbasin 41 is attached to the front side of the wall surface 2 of the washroom. The control box 5 is provided on the wall surface 2, and the human detection sensor 6 is provided on the faucet 42.

2) In the power saving mode, the pulse width of the light emission signal is not 30 μsec but an appropriate width. When the pulse width is increased, it becomes more resistant to noise such as lighting of the inverter fluorescent lamp, and when the pulse width is decreased, more power saving can be achieved.

3) In the noise-proof mode, 12 pulses of light emission signal with a duty of 50% at 38 KHz were used in the above embodiment, but the frequency, duty, and number of pulses of the light emission signal are appropriately set.

4) The microcomputer 22 substitutes the functions of the light emission drive circuit 23, the light receiving circuit 24, and the oscillation circuit 24, and the respective circuits 23 to 25 are omitted. 5) The mode changeover switch S is omitted and dedicated to the power saving mode.

6) The switching circuits 25 and 26 are omitted, and the light receiving circuits 27 and 28 are always operable. 7) The bandpass filter 31 is omitted.

8) Replace the battery 8 with a power supply device that converts alternating current into an appropriate direct current voltage, and supply power from a commercial power supply. 9) Only one of the pre-cleaning process and the post-cleaning process is performed.

[0059]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, an automatic cleaning control device for sanitary appliances that can operate normally even with a noise source such as an inverter fluorescent lamp is provided with a simple structure. There is an excellent effect that can be.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an electric block circuit diagram showing an automatic cleaning control device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a partially cutaway side view showing a mounted state of the flush urinal for men according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2B is a front view of the same.

FIG. 3 is a waveform chart in a power saving mode.

FIG. 4 is a waveform chart in a noise resistant mode.

FIG. 5 is a time chart of a pre-cleaning process and a post-cleaning process in the power saving mode.

FIG. 6 is a time chart of a pre-cleaning process and a post-cleaning process in the noise resistant mode.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the automatic cleaning control device.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a power saving mode process.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a noise resistant mode process.

FIG. 10 is a partially cutaway side view showing an attached state of a washbasin according to another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... morning glory as sanitary equipment, 3 ... water supply pipe as cleaning liquid supply means, 4 ... electromagnetic on-off valve as cleaning liquid supply means,
6 ... Human detection sensor as human detection means, 21 ... Valve drive circuit as drive means, 22 ... Microcomputer as control means and human detection means and light emission control means, S ... Mode changeover switch as noise resistant mode selection means , 23 ... Light emission drive circuit as light emission control means

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A light source for projecting light to a user of a sanitary appliance (1),
A person detecting means (6, 22) for detecting a user by detecting the reflected light; a cleaning body supplying means (3, 4) for supplying a cleaning body to the sanitary equipment (1); Drive means (2) for driving the body supply means (3, 4)
1) and the drive means (21) is controlled based on the detection of the human detection means (6) so that the cleaning body is supplied to the sanitary equipment (1) for a certain period of time. Control means (22) for controlling the cleaning body supply means (3, 4),
In an automatic cleaning control device for sanitary ware comprising: a noise-resistant mode selecting means (S); and when a noise-resistant mode is selected by the noise-resistant mode selecting means (S), the human detecting means (6) is used in advance. An automatic cleaning control device for sanitary ware, comprising: a light emission control means (22, 23) for projecting light for a predetermined time width at a predetermined number of times in a predetermined cycle.