JPH10183723A - Toilet stool function control system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a toilet stool function control system suitable for centralized controlling a toilet stool system to which various functional units can be post-fitted by providing a control unit where switches for controlling the operation of the respective functional units are arranged, and a switch changing means for suitably changing the configuration of these switch groups. SOLUTION: A system is roughly divided into a remote controller 10 and a main body, and a display screen 12 of the remote controller 10 is a touch screen in which various switch groups are displayed as an image. The main body includes a unit identifying part and an image data read-out part, wherein the image data of the switches is sent to display a switch of a functional unit connected to a unit connection interface of the main body on the display part 12. The processing is all automatically conducted only by a user's touch on 'renewal' switch of the remote controller 10. Accordingly, it is possible to always arrange necessary switches on the control unit so as to improve operability.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a toilet function control system for controlling various automatic functions provided in a toilet system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, toilet bowl washing functions, human body washing functions (such as hips washing, bidet washing, and drying of washing points), deodorizing functions,
Toilet systems equipped with various automatic functional units such as a heating function (blowing warm air into a room, heating a toilet seat), a seating detection function, and the like have been developed. According to such a toilet system (hereinafter, referred to as a “multifunctional toilet system”), not only is the comfort of using the toilet greatly improved, but also it greatly contributes to sanitation. For this reason, today, the above-mentioned multifunctional toilet system is steadily spreading even in ordinary households.

On the other hand, the multifunctional toilet system has the following problems. (1) Since multi-functionality inevitably increases the manufacturing cost, the price of the product increases, which is one of the factors that hinders widespread use. (2) For example, since it is not necessary to provide a heating function to a toilet system in a warm region, use of a multifunctional toilet system having all of the above functions in a warm region causes waste. (3) Even if there is no external factor such as climate, some users may want only some but not all of the above functions.

[0004] Therefore, a toilet system to which a functional unit can be added as an option has been developed. In this toilet system, only basic functions such as an automatic cleaning function are included in the toilet system in advance, but other additional functions are not included in the system in advance. Instead, functional unit connections for retrofitting various functional units are provided at appropriate places in the toilet system. Then, the user separately obtains the desired functional unit,
It is retrofitted to the corresponding functional unit connection. According to such a toilet system, additional functions according to external factors such as climate, user's request, and the like can be appropriately selected and added to the toilet system, so that waste can be reduced and cost can be reduced. This is advantageous in terms of saving materials for manufacturing.

[0005]

In a toilet system to which a functional unit can be retrofitted, there are two methods for controlling the operation of each retrofitted functional unit: distributed control and centralized control. First, in distributed control,
The operation of each functional unit is controlled by operating an operation panel provided on the functional unit main body, a remote controller dedicated to the functional unit, or the like. However, if a plurality of functional units are connected to the toilet system, it is necessary for the operator to appropriately use a plurality of remote controls, the number of which is equal to the number of operation panels or functional units, of each functional unit connected in the toilet system, It is troublesome.

On the other hand, when performing the centralized control, a centralized control panel is provided at an appropriate place in the toilet system in advance, or a centralized control remote controller is used. It is necessary to provide operation keys required for each functional unit that can be added to the central control remote controller in advance. However, if all the retrofittable functional units cannot be installed, some operation keys will not be used,
It will be useless. Further, when the central control remote controller is a small remote controller that can be operated while being held in a hand, the size of the remote controller is limited to some extent. However, if the number of functional units increases, the number of operation keys arranged on the operation surface of the remote controller also increases, so that the size of one operation key and the character display for describing the operation key must be reduced. Must. When the operation keys and character display of the remote control are reduced in this way, not only does the operability generally decrease,
For example, it is very difficult for an elderly person or the like who has poor eyesight to use it.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a toilet function control system suitable for centrally controlling a toilet system to which various functional units can be retrofitted. It is in.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a toilet function control system for controlling each functional unit connected to a toilet system. And a switch changing means for appropriately changing the configuration of the switch group in the control unit.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A toilet function control system according to the present invention includes the above-mentioned switch changing means, so that the configuration of a switch group in a control unit is reduced.
It can be changed as appropriate according to the configuration of the functional unit connected to the toilet system. Specifically, for example, when a new functional unit is connected to the toilet system, a switch for operating the functional unit is added to the control unit, and a function already installed in the toilet system is added. If you remove the unit,
It is possible to remove a switch for operating the functional unit from the control unit. According to such a toilet function control system, only necessary and sufficient switches can be arranged in the control unit at all times, so that there is less waste and operability as compared with the conventional system in which unnecessary switches are left as they are. Also improve.

In one embodiment of the toilet function control system according to the present invention, the switch changing means includes an image data storing means in which image data of a switch group is stored, and an image data reading means for reading image data from the image data storing means. Means, and image display means for receiving the image data read by the image data reading means and displaying an image of the switch group on a screen.

In the above, for example, the image data storage means can be configured using a semiconductor memory or the like.
The image data reading means can be constituted by a computer program for reading data from a semiconductor memory. The image display means can be constituted by a liquid crystal display, a computer program for displaying an image on the liquid crystal display, or the like.

The switch changing means can change the configuration of the switch group displayed as an image on the screen of the image display means by changing the image data read by the image data reading means. To change the image data to be read, for example, the entire image data stored in the image data storage unit may be newly updated, or a plurality of image data may be stored in the image data storage unit in advance. Alternatively, new image data may be selected and read out from the data.

In the toilet function control system, the screen on which the image of the switch is displayed may be a contact screen. With this configuration, the switch operation can be performed only by touching the finger or the like with the image of the switch displayed on the screen, so that there is no need to provide a hardware switch or the like in the control unit, and the configuration of the switch group is changed. The degree of freedom increases.

The image data storage means may be a memory card that can be inserted into and removed from the control unit. With this configuration, the image data of the switch group can be easily updated simply by inserting a new memory card into the card insertion slot of the control unit. Processing such as adding image data can be easily performed.

The toilet function control system according to the above aspect further comprises unit detection means for detecting a functional unit attached to the toilet system, wherein the image data reading means has a function detected by the unit detection means. The image data corresponding to the unit may be read from the image data storage means.

As an example of the unit detecting means, a terminal for connecting a functional unit is provided, and when a functional unit is connected to the terminal, a unit identification signal corresponding to the connected functional unit is output. An example includes a unit connection unit and a unit identification unit that identifies a functional unit based on the unit identification signal output from the unit connection unit.

Further, as another example of the unit detection means, a unit identification pin having a pattern corresponding to a functional unit, a pin detection unit for detecting the pattern of the unit identification pin, and a detection unit for detecting the pattern of the unit identification pin. And a unit identification unit for identifying a functional unit based on the set pattern. In this unit detection means, a pin detection unit is attached to a unit identification pin.
The pin detection unit detects the pattern of the unit identification pin, and the unit identification unit identifies the functional unit based on the detected pattern.

Still another example of the unit detecting means includes an identification code display on which a unit identification code is displayed, a code reading unit for reading the unit identification code, and a code reading unit. And a unit identification unit that identifies a functional unit based on the unit identification code read by the computer. Here, the unit identification code can be displayed in an arbitrary code format such as a bar code, a numeric code, and a numeric / symbol code. Further, as the code reading unit, a known device used for reading a code in each of the above-described formats can be used, for example, a bar code reader is used for a bar code. In the unit detecting means, when the unit identification code is read by the code reading unit, the unit identification unit identifies the functional unit based on the read unit identification code.

If the above-mentioned unit detecting means is provided in the toilet function control system, it becomes possible to identify the functional units connected to the toilet system by simple operations only.

Further, the toilet function control system according to the above aspect further comprises unit selection means for selecting a functional unit controllable via the control unit, wherein the image data reading means uses the unit selection means. The image data corresponding to the selected functional unit may be read from the image data storage means.

As an example of the unit selection means, there is a dial switch. In this case, when the user sets the dial switch at a position corresponding to the configuration of the functional unit to be used, the image data reading means reads out image data corresponding to the set position of the dial switch from the image data storage means.

Another example of the unit selection means is a dip switch. In this case, when the user sets the dip switch to a pattern corresponding to the configuration of the functional unit to be used, the image data reading means reads out the image data corresponding to the setting pattern of the dip switch from the image data storage means.

If the above-mentioned unit selecting means is provided in the toilet function control system, the functional units connected to the toilet system can be changed by simple switch operation only.
It can be selected as a controllable functional unit via the control unit.

In another aspect of the toilet function control system according to the present invention, the switch changing means includes a switch component corresponding to each functional unit, and a switch panel having a switch terminal to which the switch component can be attached and detached. To do. In this switch changing means, a user inserts a switch component corresponding to a functional unit connected to the toilet system into a switch terminal of a switch panel. Since such a switch changing means has a simple configuration,
It can be manufactured at low cost.

[0025]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a toilet function control system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the functions included in the toilet system in advance are a posterior washing function, a bidet washing function, and a drying function, and an indoor heating unit, a toilet seat heating unit, and a deodorizing unit are provided as optional functional units. Shall be.

The toilet function control system of this embodiment is roughly divided into a remote controller and a main body.

FIG. 1 is an external view of a remote controller 10 according to this embodiment. Display screen 12 composed of a liquid crystal display or the like
, Various switches are displayed as images. These switches include switches for controlling the operation of the functional units ("Pustic Wash" switch, "Bidet Wash"
Switch, etc.), a switch for setting a timer, etc., and instructs the main body to detect the type of the functional unit connected to the main body, and displays the display screen 12 based on the detection result.
Switch for updating the image of the image ("update" switch)
14 are included.

The display screen 12 is a contact screen (touch screen). When a user touches the display screen 12 with a finger, an infrared signal corresponding to the function of the switch displayed at the touched position is transmitted to the upper part of the remote control 10. Infrared transmitting and receiving surface 1
6 is sent out.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the remote controller 10. The display unit (LCD) 20 includes the display screen 12 described above. Image data (functions of each switch, display pattern, display position, etc.) for generating an image of a switch group displayed on the display screen 12 is stored in an image data storage unit 22 including a semiconductor memory or the like. A plurality of image data are prepared in advance, and the image data reading unit 24 selects one of the plurality of image data and sends it to the display unit 20. Thus, the image of the switch group is displayed on the display screen 12 of the display unit 20. Note that the image data selected by the image data reading unit 24 is stored in the control signal generation unit 2.
Also sent to 5.

When the user touches the display screen 12 with a finger, the display unit 20 sends a signal corresponding to the touched position to the touch position detecting unit 26. The contact position detection unit 26 generates a position signal indicating a position touched by a finger on the display screen based on the transmitted signal, and sends the position signal to the control signal generation unit 25. The control signal generation unit 25 identifies the function of the switch displayed at the position touched by the finger based on the sent position signal and the image data previously sent from the image data reading unit 24. And a function instruction signal indicating the function
Send to 8. The infrared light emitting section 28 sends out an infrared ray having a signal pattern corresponding to the sent function instruction signal. The infrared light receiving unit 27 and the unit identifying unit 29 will be described later.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the main body 50. As shown in FIG. When the infrared light transmitted from the remote controller 10 is detected by the infrared light receiving section 52 of the main body 50, the infrared light receiving section 52 converts the infrared signal pattern into a digital signal and sends the digital signal to the central control section 54. The central control unit 54 analyzes the digital signal and identifies an instruction from the remote controller 10. Then, if the instruction from the remote control 10 is “update”, the central control unit 54 activates the connection state detection unit 56. The connection state detection unit 56 is connected to the unit connection interface 58. Unit connection interface 5
8 has three terminals, and an indoor heating unit 51, a toilet seat heating unit 53, and a deodorizing unit 55 can be connected to each terminal. Each terminal is provided with a sensor that outputs a signal only when the functional unit is connected, and by detecting the output signal of this sensor, the connection state detection unit 56 checks the connection state of the functional unit. After checking the connection status, the connection status detection unit 5
Reference numeral 6 denotes a connection state detection signal indicating a connection state,
Send to 9. The infrared light emitting section 59 sends out an infrared ray having a signal pattern corresponding to the sent connection state detection signal.

Referring again to FIG. 2, when the infrared ray transmitted from the infrared ray emitting section 59 of the main body 50 is detected by the infrared ray receiving section 27 of the remote controller 10, the infrared ray receiving section 27 changes the signal pattern of the infrared ray. The signal is converted into a digital signal and sent to the unit identification unit 29. The unit identification unit 29 identifies the type of the functional unit connected to the main body 50 based on the transmitted digital signal, and reads out a switch instruction signal indicating the type of a switch related to the control of the identified functional unit as image data. Send to section 24. The image data reading unit 24
The image data of the switch specified by the transmitted switch instruction signal is read from the image data storage unit 22 and sent to the display unit 20. As a result, the display screen 1 of the display unit 20
2, a unit connection interface 58 of the main body 50 is provided.
All switches of the functional unit connected to are displayed, while switches of the functional units not connected are not displayed.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing how the image of the switch group displayed on the display screen 12 changes according to the type of the functional unit connected to the main body 50. When the optional function unit is not connected to the main body 50, the display screen 12 is as shown in FIG. When an indoor heating unit is newly connected to the main body, an “indoor heating” switch 32 and a switch group 33 used for timer reservation of the indoor heating and the like are added to the display screen 12, and FIG.
As shown in (b), when a deodorizing unit is further added, a "deodorizing" switch 34 is added to the display screen 12, and the display screen becomes as shown in FIG. The display screen 12 when all three functional units are connected to the main body is as shown in FIG.

According to the toilet function control system configured as described above, a new functional unit is connected to the unit connection interface 58 of the main body 50, or an existing function unit is removed from the unit connection interface 58. In such a case, it is possible to freely add a necessary switch or delete an unnecessary switch. To perform this processing, the user only has to touch the "update" switch of the remote controller 10, and all the subsequent processing is performed automatically, so that there is no need to perform any troublesome work for changing the switch.

In the above embodiment, infrared rays are transmitted and received between the main unit and the remote controller. Of course, the main unit and the remote controller are connected by a signal line, and signals are transmitted and received through this signal line. It is also possible.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the toilet function control system according to the present invention. The remote control 60 of the toilet function control system of the present embodiment is provided with a dial switch 62. When the dial switch 62 is set to a desired position, an image data reading unit (not shown) reads image data corresponding to the setting from an image data storage unit (not shown). Thus, a desired switch group can be displayed on the display screen 64.

FIG. 6 is a view showing still another embodiment of the toilet function control system according to the present invention. A dip switch 72 is provided on the remote controller 70 of the toilet function control system of this embodiment.
Is provided. Remove the cover 76 and DIP switch 7
When 2 is set to a desired pattern, an image data reading unit (not shown) reads image data corresponding to the setting from an image data storage unit (not shown). Thus, the display screen 74
Can display a desired switch group.

FIG. 7 is a view showing still another embodiment of the toilet function control system according to the present invention. In the toilet function control system of the present embodiment, the remote controller 80 is provided with the pin detection unit 82, while each function unit is provided with a unit identification pin 84 having a different pattern for each function unit. When the pin detection section 82 of the remote controller 80 is attached to the unit identification pin 84, the pin detection section 82 detects the pattern of the unit identification pin 84, and the image data reading section (not shown) changes the pattern detected by the pin detection section 82. The corresponding image data is read from an image data storage unit (not shown). Thus, a desired switch group can be displayed on the display screen 86.

FIG. 8 is a view showing still another embodiment of the toilet function control system according to the present invention. In the toilet function control system of the present embodiment, the bar code reader 9
On the other hand, a bar code display body 94 displaying a different bar code for each functional unit is attached to each functional unit. When a bar code is read by the bar code reader 92 of the remote controller, an image data reading unit (not shown) reads image data corresponding to the read bar code from an image data storage unit (not shown). Thus, a desired switch group can be displayed on the display screen 96.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing still another embodiment of the toilet function control system according to the present invention. On the remote controller 100 of the toilet function control system of this embodiment, switches related to basic functions such as posterior washing and bidet washing are displayed as images in advance on a display screen 101 (contact screen) as a contact screen. In addition, a key slot 104 for inserting a hard key 102 for controlling operation of an optional functional unit is provided. This key slot 104 has a hard key 10 for a functional unit.
2, the tip 103 of the hard key 102 is connected to the switch terminal 106 in the key slot 104,
The hard key 102 becomes operable. The switch terminal 106 can be protected by attaching a cover 108 to the unused key insertion opening 104.

FIG. 10 is a view showing still another embodiment of the toilet function control system according to the present invention. In the toilet function control system of the present embodiment, a hard key 112 for each functional unit and a key slot 11 for inserting the hard key 112 are provided.
Switch panel 114 having switch 3 and switch panel 11
An operation box 118 having a panel mounting portion 116 for mounting the control panel 4 is included. A switch terminal 117 is provided on a bottom surface of the panel mounting portion 116 at a position corresponding to the key insertion opening 113 of the switch panel 114. When the hard key 112 is appropriately inserted into the key insertion opening 113 of the switch panel 114, the switch panel 114 is mounted on the panel mounting portion 116 of the operation box 118, and the hard key 112 on the switch panel 114 is pressed.
When the tip of the pressed hard key 112 comes into contact with the switch terminal 117, the switch terminal 117 becomes conductive. The switch terminal 117 can be protected by attaching a cover 119 to the unused key insertion opening 113.

Although the embodiment of the toilet function control system according to the present invention has been specifically described above with reference to the drawings, the embodiment is not limited to the above, and is within the spirit and scope of the present invention. It goes without saying that various modifications are possible.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of a remote controller according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the remote controller of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a main body of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a state where an image of a switch group displayed on a display screen of a remote controller changes.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the toilet function control system according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a view showing still another embodiment of the toilet function control system according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing still another embodiment of the toilet function control system according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing still another embodiment of the toilet function control system according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a view showing still another embodiment of the toilet function control system according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a view showing still another embodiment of the toilet bowl function control system according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100 remote controller 12, 64, 74, 86, 96, 101 display screen 20 display unit (LCD) 22 image data storage unit 24 image data read unit 50 main unit 58 ... Unit connection interface 62 ... Dial switch 72 ... Dip switch 82 ... Pin detection unit 84 ... Unit identification pin 92 ... Bar code reader 94 ... Bar code display 102,112 ... Hard key 104,113 ... Key insertion port 106 Reference numeral 117: switch terminal 114: switch panel 118: operation box

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A toilet function control system for controlling each functional unit connected to a toilet system, comprising: a control unit provided with a switch for controlling the operation of each functional unit; and a configuration of the switch in the control unit. And a switch configuration changing unit for appropriately changing the function of the toilet. 2. The switch configuration changing unit includes: an image data storage unit in which image data of a switch is stored; an image data reading unit that reads image data from the image data storage unit; 2. The toilet function control system according to claim 1, further comprising image display means for receiving the image data and displaying an image of the switch on a screen. 3. The toilet function control system according to claim 2, wherein the screen on which the image of the switch is displayed is a contact screen. 4. The toilet function control system according to claim 2, wherein said image data storage means is a memory card which can be inserted into and removed from a control unit. 5. A unit detecting means for detecting a functional unit attached to the toilet system, wherein the image data reading means corresponds to a switch for controlling the functional unit detected by the unit detecting means. 5. The toilet function control system according to claim 2, wherein image data to be read is read from said image data storage means. 6. The unit detecting means has a terminal for connecting a functional unit, and outputs a unit identification signal corresponding to the connected functional unit when the functional unit is connected to the terminal. A connection unit; a unit identification unit that identifies a functional unit based on the unit identification signal output from the unit connection unit;
The toilet function control system according to claim 5, further comprising: 7. The unit detection means includes: a unit identification pin having a pattern corresponding to a functional unit; a pin detection unit for detecting a pattern of the unit identification pin; and a pattern detected by the pin detection unit. The toilet function control system according to claim 5, further comprising: a unit identification unit that identifies a functional unit by using the unit. 8. The unit detecting means includes: an identification code display on which a unit identification code is displayed; a code reading unit for reading the unit identification code; and a unit identification read by the code reading unit. The toilet function control system according to claim 5, further comprising: a unit identification unit that identifies a functional unit based on the use code. 9. A unit selection means for selecting a function unit to be controlled via a control unit, wherein the image data reading means corresponds to the function unit selected by using the unit selection means. 5. The toilet function control system according to claim 2, wherein image data is read from said image data storage means. 10. The toilet function control system according to claim 9, wherein said unit selection means is a dial switch. 11. The toilet function control system according to claim 9, wherein said unit selection means is a dip switch. 12. The switch according to claim 1, wherein the switch configuration changing means includes a switch component corresponding to each functional unit, and a switch panel having a switch terminal to which the switch component can be attached and detached. Toilet function control system.