JPH06105758A - Automatic opening and closing device for water closet lid - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To decrease the probability of missensing any person existing by passing a judging from no person existing, that any person exists, when a photo- receiving part receives a photo-pulse signal in interlocking with all of the adjoining light cast timings under the condition that no person exists. CONSTITUTION:A person existence sensor 8 is equipped with a light emission part 8a and a photo-receiving part 8b, and if user is in front of a water closet 1, the photo-pulse signal given by the emission part 8a is reflected by the person 20, and it is received by the receiving part 8b. The signal is fed to a control means 9 and sent to a drive circuit 10, and a driving means 7 moves the water closet lid 5 in the direction of opening. The control means 9 judges whether the receiving part 8b has received photo-pulse signal in interlocking with all of the adjoining light cast timings, and if yes, judgement is passed about person existing. Accordingly the part 8b having received pulse signals from a fluorescent lamp, etc., does not directly cause judging about any person existing.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

[Object of the Invention]

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device for automatically opening and closing a toilet lid.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, as an automatic toilet lid opening / closing device of this type, a device disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 4-10795 has been known. This is a driving means for rotating the toilet lid linked with a toilet lid rotatably supported by the toilet so that it can be placed on the toilet seat, and a human body detecting means for detecting the presence or absence of a human body near the toilet bowl, The driving means is operated in one direction or the other direction based on the optical signal from the human body detecting means. Further, the human body detecting means includes an ultrasonic sensor,
Infrared sensors or pyroelectric sensors have been used.

In this apparatus, the infrared sensor has a light emitting portion for emitting an optical pulse signal (infrared ray) and a light receiving portion for receiving the optical pulse signal reflected by the human body in front of the toilet. Based on this, the control means tries to determine the presence or absence of a human body. The control means determines that the human body is present when the light receiving section receives the light pulse signal once in association with the single projection timing of the light emitted from the light emitting section without the human body.

[0005]

A fluorescent lamp is often present in the vicinity of the above-mentioned automatic toilet lid opening / closing device. However, with this automatic toilet lid opening / closing device, there is no human body.
When the light receiving unit receives the light pulse signal from the fluorescent lamp at the time of projecting the light once, there is a risk that the above-mentioned control means mistakenly recognizes the light pulse signal as the light pulse signal reflected from the human body and detects that there is a human body. There is a nature.

Therefore, it is a technical object of the present invention to reduce the probability of erroneously detecting a human body when the light receiving unit receives the light pulse signal from the fluorescent lamp at the time of light projection.

[0007]

[Constitution of the invention]

[0008]

The technical means taken in the invention of claim 1 to solve the above technical problems are as follows:
The driving means is linked to the toilet lid rotatably supported by the toilet so that the toilet lid can be placed on the toilet bowl, the driving means for rotating the toilet lid, the light emitting unit for transmitting the optical pulse signal, and the human body in front of the toilet bowl. Automatic opening and closing of the toilet lid having a human body detecting means having a light receiving portion for receiving an optical pulse signal, and a control means for operating the drive means in the opening direction or the closing direction of the toilet lid based on the optical pulse signal from the human body detecting means. In the device, the control means determines whether or not the light receiving section receives the optical pulse signal in association with each of the adjacent light emitting timings, and in which of the light emitting timings the light receiving areas are adjacent to each other in the absence of a human body. When the optical pulse signal is received in conjunction with the above, it is determined that there is a human body from the absence of a human body.

In order to solve the above technical problems, a second aspect is provided.
The technical means taken in the invention is that the control means shortens the interval of the optical pulse signal transmitted from the light emitting portion when the light receiving portion changes from no light receiving to light receiving, and determines that there is a human body. That is, the interval of the optical pulse signal transmitted from the light emitting unit is always lengthened, and in other cases than the above, the interval of the optical pulse signal transmitted from the light emitting unit is controlled to the normal length.

In order to solve the above technical problem, a third aspect is provided.
The technical means taken in the invention is that the control means confirms whether or not the light receiving portion has received the optical pulse signal at the non-light projecting timing.

[0011]

According to the technical means taken in the invention of claim 1, the control means determines whether or not the light receiving section receives the optical pulse signal in association with each of the adjacent light emitting timings, When the light receiving unit receives an optical pulse signal in conjunction with any of the adjacent light emitting timings, it is judged that there is no human body and the human body exists. Even if the light receiving unit receives the light pulse signal from the fluorescent lamp at the timing, it is not determined that there is a human body, and the probability of erroneously detecting the human body can be reduced accordingly. The probability that the light receiving unit receives the light pulse signal from the fluorescent lamp at the next light projecting timing is considerably low.

According to the technical means taken in the invention of claim 2, the control means shortens the interval of the optical pulse signal transmitted from the light emitting portion when the light receiving portion changes from no light receiving to light receiving. As a result, the time from when the user arrives in front of the toilet bowl until the user opens the toilet lid is shortened, and the responsiveness is improved. Further, when the control means determines that there is a human body, it is controlled so that the interval of the optical pulse signal transmitted from the light emitting portion is always lengthened, so that the life of the light emitting portion is extended. In the case other than the above, the control means controls the interval of the light pulse signal transmitted from the light emitting portion to be a normal length, so that the life of the light emitting portion is extended.

According to the technical means taken in the third aspect of the invention, the control means confirms whether or not the light receiving section has received the light pulse signal at the non-light projecting timing, so that the non-light projecting timing is achieved. When the light receiving unit receives the light pulse signal, it is determined that this is the light pulse signal from the fluorescent lamp, and the determination as to whether or not the light receiving unit has received the light pulse signal at the next projection timing is invalidated, while If the light receiving unit does not receive the light pulse signal at the non-light emitting timing, it is determined that the light pulse signal from the fluorescent lamp is not received, and whether the light receiving unit receives the light pulse signal at the next light emitting timing. Is determined to be valid. That is, erroneous detection of the human body can be reduced when a fluorescent lamp or the like having a high light intensity is present in the vicinity of the light receiving unit and emits continuous light pulse signals toward the light receiving unit.

[0014]

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

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a toilet sanitary device using the toilet lid automatic opening / closing device according to the present invention, and FIG.
It is a circuit diagram of the toilet lid automatic opening and closing device according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, a casing 2 is arranged on the toilet bowl 1. A toilet seat 3 is rotatably disposed on the casing 2 via a pin 4, and can be placed on the toilet 1. Also, in the casing 2,
A toilet lid 5 is rotatably arranged via a pin 6 and can be placed on the toilet seat 3. In the casing 2,
A drive means 7 linked to the toilet lid 5 is provided to rotate the toilet lid 5. A human body detection sensor (human body detection means) 8 for detecting the presence or absence of a human body in front of the toilet 1 is arranged in the casing 2. The human body detection sensor 8 is an infrared sensor.

As shown in FIG. 2, the human body detection sensor 8 is connected to the input port P1 of the control means 9 arranged in the casing 2 through the detection circuit 11. or,
The driving means 7 is connected to the output port P2 via the driving circuit 10.
Are connected.

Next, the operation of the automatic toilet lid opening / closing device will be described.

When the user stands in front of the toilet 1 in the non-use state shown in FIG. 1, the human body detection sensor 8 detects it and sends it to the detection circuit 11, and the signal from the detection circuit 11 is sent to the control means 9. Then, the control means 9 determines that the toilet bowl 1 is used. As a result, a signal for rotating the driving means 7 in the direction to open the toilet lid 5 is sent to the drive circuit 10 via the output port P2, and the driving means 7 operates in the opening direction of the toilet lid 5. As a result, the toilet lid 5 is rotated and automatically closed (the state where it is placed on the toilet seat 3).
To open.

On the other hand, when the user stands up on the toilet seat 3 and leaves the front of the toilet 1 after use, the human body detection sensor 7 detects it and sends it to the detection circuit 11, and the signal from the detection circuit 11 is sent to the control means 9. Is input to the input port P1 and the control means 9 determines that the use of the toilet 1 has ended.
As a result, a signal for rotating the drive means 7 in the direction to close the toilet lid 5 is output via the output port P2 to the drive circuit 10.
The driving means 7 is operated in the closing direction of the toilet lid 5. As a result, the toilet lid 5 rotates and automatically changes from the open state to the closed state.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing the human body detection sensor 8 when the user is not in front of the toilet bowl 1, and FIG.
Is a schematic diagram showing the human body detection sensor 8 when the user is in front of the toilet 1, and FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the human body detection sensor 8 when a fluorescent lamp is present.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the human body detecting sensor 8 includes a light emitting portion 8a containing a light emitting element (not shown).
And a light receiving portion 8b containing a light receiving element (not shown). As shown in FIG. 3, when the user is not in front of the toilet 1, an optical pulse signal as shown in FIG. 6 is emitted from the light emitting portion 8a, but since there is no reflection target object, the light receiving portion 8b. Does not receive the received light signal. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, when the user is in front of the toilet 1, the light pulse signal is emitted from the light emitting portion 8a toward the human body 20, and the light pulse signal reflected by the human body 20 is emitted. Light receiving part 8
The light is received by b.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, when a fluorescent lamp is present near the human body detecting sensor 8, the light receiving section 8b also receives the light pulse signal from the fluorescent lamp 30.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing the light projecting timing, the light receiving confirmation timing, and the light receiving signal received by the light receiving portion according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 7 shows the operation of the control means according to the first embodiment. It is a flowchart.

The operation of the control means 9 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.

As shown in FIG. 7, in step S1, it is judged whether or not it is the light reception confirmation timing (time to confirm the light reception). Here, the light reception confirmation timing is the moment when the light is emitted from the light emitting unit 8a of the human body detection sensor 8, that is, the light emission timing (pulse signals of A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and H in FIG. 6). Immediately after that, A1, B1, C1, and
It corresponds to pulse signals of D1, E1, F1, G1, and H1. When it is determined in step S1 that it is not the light reception confirmation timing, it is determined again in step S1 whether it is the light reception confirmation timing. When it is determined in step S1 that it is the light reception confirmation timing, in step S2, it is started to determine whether or not the light receiving unit 8b receives the light reception signal at the current light reception confirmation timing. At the same time, in step S3, it is determined whether or not the user recognizes that the user is in front of the toilet 1 (hereinafter referred to as having a human body).

If it is determined in step S3 that there is no human body, that is, if the user is not in front of the toilet 1 (hereinafter referred to as "no human body"), then in step S4, at the present light reception confirmation timing. The determination result of whether or not the light receiving unit 8b receives the light receiving signal is output. If the result of the determination is that there is light reception, it is determined in step S5 whether or not the light receiving unit 8b has received a light reception signal at the previous light reception confirmation timing, and if it is determined that there is light reception (C2, D2 in FIG. 6). In step S6, it is determined that there is a human body, and the process proceeds to step S12. In step S12, the interval of the pulse signal to be projected is set long (CD, DE in FIG. 6), and the process returns to step S1. On the other hand, in step S5, when it is determined that the light receiving unit 8b has not received the light receiving signal at the previous light receiving confirmation timing (hereinafter, referred to as no light receiving) (B in FIG. 6).
2), it is determined that there is no human body (state recognized in step S3), and the process proceeds to step S10. In step S10, the light pulse signal to be projected is set short (BC in FIG. 6), and the process returns to step S1. If it is determined in step S4 that no light is received at this light reception confirmation timing, no human body is present (state recognized in step S3).
Then, in step S11, the interval of the light pulse signal to be projected is set to a normal length (AB in FIG. 6), and the process returns to step S1.

If it is recognized in step S3 that a human body is present, in step S7 a determination result as to whether or not the light receiving section 8b has received a light reception signal is output. If the determination result is that no light is received, it is determined in step S8 whether or not the light receiving unit 8b has received a light reception signal at the previous light reception confirmation timing, and it is determined that no light is received (FIG. 6).
No. F2, G2, H2), and in step S9, it is determined that there is no human body, and the process proceeds to step S11. In step S11, the interval of the projected pulse signal is set to a normal length (FG, GH in FIG. 6), and the process returns to step S1. On the other hand, in step S8, when it is determined that there is light reception at the previous light reception confirmation timing (see FIG. 6).
E2), it is determined that there is a human body (state recognized in step S3), and the process proceeds to step S12. In step S12, the interval of the light pulse signal to be projected is set long (EF in FIG. 6), and the process returns to step S1. or,
If it is determined in step S7 that no light is received at this light reception confirmation timing, it is determined that there is a human body (the state recognized in step S3), and in step S12, the interval of the light pulse signal to be projected is set to be long. (For example, CD in FIG. 6), the process returns to step S1.

As described above, in the first embodiment, the control means 9 receives the light pulse signal in association with each of the light projecting timings (for example, C and D in FIG. 6) where the light receiving portions 8b are adjacent to each other. It is determined whether or not there is a human body, and when the light receiving unit 8b receives an optical pulse signal in conjunction with any of the adjacent light emitting timings in the state where there is no human body, it is determined that there is no human body. Even if the light receiving unit 8b receives the light pulse signal from the fluorescent lamp 30 at the first light projecting timing (for example, C in FIG. 6) among the light projecting timings adjacent to each other, it is not determined that there is a human body. Therefore, the probability of erroneously detecting the human body can be reduced. At the next light projecting timing (for example, D in FIG. 6), the probability that the light receiving unit receives the light pulse signal from the fluorescent lamp is considerably low.

Further, since the control means 9 controls so as to shorten the interval of the light pulse signal emitted from the light emitting portion 8a when the light receiving portion 8b changes from no light receiving to light receiving, the user is in front of the toilet bowl. The time from the arrival to the opening of the toilet lid is shortened and the responsiveness is improved. Further, when the control means 9 determines that there is a human body, it is controlled so that the interval of the light pulse signal emitted from the light emitting portion 8b is always lengthened, so that the life of the light emitting element in the light emitting portion 8a is extended. .
In the case other than the above, the control means 9 controls so as to set the normal interval, so that the life of the light emitting element in the light emitting section 8a is extended.

Next, the operation of the control means 9 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9.

As shown in FIG. 9, in step S21, it is determined whether or not it is the light reception confirmation timing. Here, the light reception confirmation timing is immediately after the time when the light is emitted from the light emitting unit 8a of the human body detection sensor 8, that is, the light emission timing (pulse signals of A, B, C, D, E, F, and G in FIG. 8). It is any of the timings approximately in the middle between the light projection timings.

The light receiving confirmation timing immediately after the light projecting timing is A1, B1, C1, D1, E1, F1, in FIG.
The light receiving confirmation timing corresponding to the pulse signal of G1 and substantially in the middle between the light emitting timings is A2, B2, C2, D in FIG.
It corresponds to pulse signals of 2, E2, F2 and G2. When it is determined in step S21 that it is not the light reception confirmation timing, it is determined again in step S21 whether it is the light reception confirmation timing. In step S21,
If it is determined that it is the light reception confirmation timing, in step S22, it is started to determine whether or not there is light reception at the current light reception confirmation timing. At the same time, in step S23, it is determined whether or not it is the light reception confirmation timing immediately after the light projection timing.

If it is determined in step S23 that the light reception confirmation timing is not immediately after the light projection timing (A2, B2, C2, D2, E2, F2, G2 in FIG. 8), it is determined in step S24 whether light is received. The judgment result is output. If the result of the determination is that no light is received, then in step S25, the result of determination of whether or not light is received at the next light reception confirmation timing, that is, the light reception confirmation timing immediately after the light projection timing is determined to be valid (correct), and the process returns to step S21. If the result of this determination is that there is light reception in step S24, the result of determination as to whether or not there is light reception at the next light reception confirmation timing, that is, the light reception confirmation timing immediately after the light emission timing is determined to be invalid (erroneous) in step S26, and step S21 Return to.

If it is determined in step S23 that it is the light reception confirmation timing immediately after the light emission timing (A1, B1, C1, D1, E1, F1, G1 in FIG. 8), the current light reception confirmation timing is obtained in step S27. That is, at the light reception confirmation timing immediately after the light emission timing, it is determined whether or not the result of determination of whether or not light is received is validated, and if the result of the determination is validated (step S26), the process proceeds to step S21. Return.

In step S27, if the result of the judgment is found to be valid (step S25), step S27
At 28, it is determined whether or not the human body is recognized.

When it is recognized in step S28 that there is no human body, in step S29, the result of determination as to whether or not light is received at the current light reception confirmation timing is output. If the determination result is that light is received, it is determined in step S30 whether light is received at the light reception confirmation timing two times before, and if it is determined that light is received (D in FIG. 8).
3) In step S31, it is determined that there is a human body, and the process returns to step S21. On the other hand, in step S30,
When it is determined that there is no light reception at the light reception confirmation timing two times before (B3 in FIG. 8), it is determined that there is no human body (the state recognized in step S28), and the process returns to step S21. or,
If it is determined in step S29 that no light is received at this light reception confirmation timing, no human body is present (step S2
It is determined that the state has been recognized in step 8), and the process returns to step S21.

If it is recognized in step S28 that there is a human body, in step S32 a determination result as to whether or not there is light reception is output at the present light reception confirmation timing.

If the result of the determination is that no light is received, step S
33, it is determined whether or not light is received at the light reception confirmation timing two times before, and it is determined that no light is received (see FIG. 8).
G3), it is determined that there is no human body in step S34, and the process returns to step S21. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S33 that there is light reception at the light reception confirmation timing two times before (F3 in FIG. 8), it is determined that there is a human body (the state recognized in step S28), and the process returns to step S21.
If it is determined in step S32 that no light is received at this light reception confirmation timing, it is determined that there is a human body (the state recognized in step S28), and step S21
Return to.

As described above, also in the second embodiment, the first
Similar to the embodiment, the control unit 9 determines whether or not the light receiving unit 8b receives the light pulse signal in association with each of the adjacent light emitting timings (for example, C and D in FIG. 8), and the human body When the light receiving portion 8b receives an optical pulse signal in conjunction with any of the adjacent light emitting timings in the absence of light, it is determined that there is no human body and therefore there is no human body. Even if the light receiving unit 8b receives the light pulse signal from the fluorescent lamp 30 at the first light projecting timing (for example, C in FIG. 8), it is not determined that there is a human body. Therefore, the probability of erroneously detecting the human body can be reduced. At the next light projecting timing (eg, D in FIG. 8), the probability that the light receiving unit receives the light pulse signal from the fluorescent lamp is quite low.

Further, in the second embodiment, the control means 9
When the light receiving unit 8b receives the light pulse signal at the non-lighting timing by checking whether the light receiving unit receives the light pulse signal at the non-lighting timing, this is the light pulse signal from the fluorescent lamp 30. If it is determined that the light receiving unit 8b has received the light pulse signal at the next light projecting timing, the light receiving unit 8b does not receive the light pulse signal at the non-light projecting timing. It is determined that the light pulse signal from the lamp 30 has not been received, and it is effective to determine whether or not the light receiving unit 8b has received the light pulse signal at the next light projecting timing. Therefore, the present invention can be applied to the case where a fluorescent lamp or sunlight having a high light intensity projects a continuous light pulse signal toward the light receiving portion.

In this embodiment, it is possible to combine the first embodiment and the second embodiment. Further, the above-mentioned automatic opening / closing device may be used as an automatic opening / closing device for a toilet seat.

[0043]

The invention of claim 1 has the following effects.

The control means determines whether or not the light receiving section receives the light pulse signal in association with each of the adjacent light emitting timings, and determines which of the light emitting timings the light receiving areas are adjacent to each other when there is no human body. When the light pulse signal is received in conjunction with the above, it is judged that there is a human body from the human body without a human body. Even if the pulse signal is received, it is not determined that there is a human body. Therefore, the probability of erroneously detecting the human body can be reduced.

The invention of claim 2 has the following effects.

Since the control means controls so as to shorten the interval of the pulse signal transmitted from the light emitting unit when the light receiving unit changes from no light receiving to light receiving, the toilet lid is reached after the user arrives in front of the toilet bowl. It takes less time to open and improves responsiveness. Further, when the control means determines that there is a human body, the control unit controls to increase the interval of the pulse signal transmitted from the light emitting section, so that the life of the light emitting section is extended. In the case other than the above, the control means controls to set the normal interval, so that the life of the light emitting unit is extended.

The invention of claim 3 has the following effects.

When the light receiving unit receives the light pulse signal at the non-light emitting timing, the control unit confirms whether or not the light receiving unit receives the light pulse signal at the non-light emitting timing. When it is determined that the light pulse signal and the light receiving unit receives the light pulse signal at the next light projecting timing is invalid, while the light receiving unit does not receive the light pulse signal at the non-light projecting timing, It is determined that the light pulse signal from the fluorescent lamp has not been received, and it is effective to determine whether or not the light receiving unit has received the light pulse signal at the next light projecting timing. Therefore, it is possible to prevent erroneous detection of the human body particularly when a fluorescent lamp or sunlight having a high light intensity projects a continuous light pulse signal toward the light receiving portion.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a sanitary device using an automatic toilet lid opening / closing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of an automatic toilet lid opening / closing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a human body detection sensor when the user is not in front of the toilet bowl.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a human body detection sensor when a user is in front of a toilet bowl.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a human body detection sensor when a fluorescent lamp is present.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a state of a pulse signal of the human body detection sensor according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control means according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a state of a pulse signal of the human body detection sensor according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control means according to the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Toilet bowl 5 Toilet lid 7 Driving means 8 Human body detection sensor (human body detection means) 8a Human body detection sensor light emitting section 8b Human body detection sensor light receiving section 9 Control means

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Shinji Kawai 2-1-1 Asahi-cho, Kariya city, Aichi Prefecture Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A driving means for rotating the toilet lid, which is linked to a toilet lid rotatably supported by the toilet so that the toilet lid can be placed on the toilet, a light emitting section for transmitting an optical pulse signal, and a toilet bowl. Human body detecting means having a light receiving portion for receiving the optical pulse signal reflected by the human body, and control for operating the driving means in the opening direction or the closing direction of the toilet lid based on the optical pulse signal from the human body detecting means. In the automatic toilet lid opening and closing device having means, the control means determines whether or not the light receiving section has received an optical pulse signal in association with each of adjacent light projecting timings, and in the state without a human body, An automatic lid opening / closing device, characterized in that when a light pulse signal is received in association with any of the adjacent light emitting timings of the light receiving portions, it is judged that there is no human body and that there is a human body. 2. The control means shortens the interval of the light pulse signal transmitted from the light emitting portion when the light receiving portion changes from no light receiving to light receiving, and is always performed when it is determined that there is a human body. 2. The automatic toilet lid opening and closing device according to claim 1, wherein the interval of the optical pulse signal is lengthened, and in other cases than the above, the interval of the optical pulse signal is controlled to a normal length. 3. The toilet lid automatic opening / closing device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit confirms whether or not the light receiving unit receives an optical pulse signal at a non-light projecting timing.