JPS63308124A - Automatic water stopcock apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to an automatic faucet device that can control the supply and stop of water in a water washer or the like upon the approach of a user.

(Prior art) This type of automatic faucet device is known, for example, from Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 59-1556.
No. 66, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 61-294032, etc. In this case, for example, the light emitting part emits infrared rays in the direction toward which the user approaches, and when the user approaches or holds out his/her hand, the infrared rays are reflected and detected. When the light receiving section detects the infrared rays emitted, a switch means such as a multivibrator is energized, and a drive circuit is activated to open the water supply valve.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, in this case, in order to reduce power consumption, the interval between light emissions by the light emitting section is relatively long (for example, 1 second).
For this reason, even when a user approaches and immediately requests water spouting, the system may remain on standby for a while, making it inconvenient to use. Such a situation occurs conspicuously, for example, in an automatic water-discharging type washbasin, which detects when a hand is extended toward the faucet and discharges water. Also,
Although it is possible to improve responsiveness by shortening the light emission interval, this is not desirable from the viewpoint of limiting power consumption.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic faucet device that discharges water immediately upon the approach of a user, has good responsiveness, is easy to use, and has low power consumption.

(Means and effects for solving the problem) In order to achieve this object, the present invention provides an infrared detection unit having proximity detection means including a light emitting element and a light receiving element, and drive control of this infrared detection unit. In an automatic water faucet device comprising a first control circuit and a second control circuit that controls a water supply system based on a detection signal of the infrared detection unit, the first control circuit operates at a relatively large time interval. The first one detects the approach of the user with a relatively large reach.
the infrared detection unit is operated in a control mode, and after detecting the approach of the user in this first control mode, the approach of the user is detected at a relatively short time interval and a relatively short range; The infrared detection unit is operated in a second control mode, and after detecting the approach of the user in the second control mode, a command is issued to operate the second control circuit.

According to this configuration, until the approach of a user is detected at a relatively long distance, the light emitting device waits at a relatively long interval, and once the approach is detected, it is possible to detect the user at a relatively short distance. It is possible to switch the light emitting interval to a short interval so as to be able to immediately respond to a water discharging request.

(Embodiments of the Invention) The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the same reference numerals in each figure indicate similar objects.

FIG. 1 shows a wash basin equipped with an automatic faucet device according to an embodiment of the present invention. This wash basin is equipped with a wash basin 1 attached to the wall, a soap bottle 2) containing liquid soap, and a soap bottle 3. We are prepared. The collar 3 is equipped with a water spout 4 on the lower side of its tip, and is capable of spouting water toward the washbasin 1. In addition, near the roots of the collar 3, there are two sets of proximity detection means 5 and 6.
be equipped with. As shown in FIG.
, 6a, and phototransistors 5b and 6b that detect this reflected infrared light. Here, the proximity detection means 5 is detected from a relatively far distance (for example, 50 to 60 cm).
This is for detecting the approach of a user, and is driven in the first mode in which the emission interval is relatively long (for example, 1 second). The proximity detection means 6 detects when the user is relatively close (for example, 20
cm) This is for detecting that at least a part of the user's body approaches, and is controlled in a second mode in which the emission interval is relatively short (for example, 0.2 seconds). FIG. 3 shows the difference in detection distance by such proximity detection means 5 and 6.

Water is supplied from the sink 3 through the vibrator 7, and the washbasin 1
Drainage from the tank is carried out through a drain pipe 8. The vibrator 7 is connected to a water supply pipe 9 extending from the wall, and a control box 19
Water is supplied to or shut off to the vibrator 7 by opening and closing the solenoid valve 9 inside. That is, when the solenoid valve 10 is opened, water from the water supply pipe 9 flows into the vibrator 7 via the connecting pipe 11, and water comes out from the water spout 4 of the collar 3, and when the solenoid valve 10 is closed, water flows into the vibrator 7 through the connecting pipe 11. Then, the water from the water supply pipe 9 is cut off, water no longer flows into the vibrator 7, and the water supply from the water spout 4 of the collar 3 is stopped.

The control unit 20 in the control box 19 executes such user proximity detection control and water supply control from the water spout 4 of the drain 3. The control unit 20 is powered by a battery 21 in the control box 19 and supplies or receives signals to the proximity sensing means 5 of the callan 3 via a connecting cord 22 .

FIG. 4 shows a control unit 20 that executes such proximity detection control and water supply control. Also, Figure 5 shows the 4th
It is a timing chart illustrating the signal Bxg of each part in the figure, and the figure number symbols (a) to (g) match the symbol Bxg of the signal. According to FIG. 4, the control unit 20:
It can be roughly divided into a section 30 that mainly executes proximity detection control and a section 40 that executes water discharge control. The proximity detection control system 3° includes a light emitting unit 31 connected to the light receiving transistor 5b.
, AND gate 32), a counter 33, a frequency switching circuit 34, an oscillator 35, and a light emission control circuit 36 that drives the light emitting diodes 5a and 6a. The water spouting control system 40 also includes a light emitting unit 41 connected to the light receiving transistor 6b, two AND gates 42 and 43, an inverter 44, two counters 45 and 4B, and a water spouting switching circuit 47.
, a delay circuit 48 and a water discharge drive circuit 49. These will be explained below.

The light receiving unit 21 of the proximity detection control system 30 is
The light receiving transistor 5b detects the reflected light from the light emitting diode 5a of the proximity detection means 5, and the detected signal is shaped or amplified for subsequent processing. The detection signal of the light receiving unit 31 is shaped into a constant width pulse signal by an AND gate 32 which takes the reference width signal cwt as one input, and is input to the counter 33.

The counter 33 is a preset counter, and outputs one pulse C when the number of input pulses reaches two. The frequency switching circuit 34 is set by the output of this counter 33 to set the logic of the output signal d to "1", and also controls the delay circuit 48 to be described later.
It is reset by the output of , and the signal d=o.
For example, it can be constructed using flip-flops.

The oscillator 35 has two oscillation frequencies that can be switched and output, for example, a period of 1 second and a period of 0.5 seconds. It has an oscillation frequency of 2 seconds. The oscillator 35 switches between these two frequencies using the output of the frequency switching circuit 34 and fires the image.
According to this embodiment, when d-0, it oscillates with a period of 1 second, and when d=1, it oscillates with a period of 0.2 seconds. The light emission control circuit 36 selects the light emitting diode 5a or the light emitting diode 6a to emit light according to the oscillation frequency of the oscillator 35, and is in a standby state when the oscillation cycle is 1 second, for example, about 50 to 60 cm. The light emitting diode 5a emits light with such intensity and direction that it can be detected over a relatively long distance.

Further, when the oscillation period is 0.2 seconds, it is in a state to detect the extension of the user's hand, and the light emitting diode 5a is made to emit light with an intensity and direction that allows detection at a relatively close distance of, for example, about 20 cm. .

The light receiving unit 41 of the water discharging control system 40 includes a light receiving transistor 6b that detects the reflected light of the light emitting diode 6a of the proximity detection means 6 of the collar 3, and shapes or amplifies the detected signal for subsequent processing. . Light receiving unit 4
The detection signal No. 1 is shaped into a constant width pulse signal by an AND gate 42 which receives the reference width signal cw2 as one input.
The counter 45 is manually operated. Further, the detection signal of the light receiving unit 41 is transmitted to the reference width signal cw2 via the inverter 44.
is formed into a constant width pulse signal by an AND gate 42 which has one input as input, and is inputted to a counter 46.

Counters 45 and 46 are both preset counters, and when the number of human pulses reaches 2 and 7, respectively, the pulse e
, f is output. The output pulses e and f of the counters 45 and 46 serve as input signals to the water discharge switching circuit 47, respectively. That is, the water spouting switching circuit 47 is set by the output e of the counter 45 to make the output signal g logic "1", and is reset by the output f of the counter 46 to make the signal g=Q, and is configured by, for example, a flip-flop. can do. When the output signal g is logic 1, the water spouting switching circuit 47 operates the water spouting driving circuit 49 to open the electromagnetic valve 10 in FIG. 1 and spouting water. In addition, the water discharge switching circuit 47
When the output signal g is logic 0, the water discharge drive circuit 49 is activated to close the electromagnetic valve 10 shown in FIG. 1 and shut off the water.

Next, the operation of the embodiment will be explained with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7. In addition, in the following explanation, (60) to (69
) correspond to each block number in the flowchart of FIG. Further, codes such as (62y) and (62n) indicate that the judgment of the judgment block (62) is positive and negative, respectively.

First, when the control system starts up (60), light emission control starts, and the oscillator 35 outputs the output logic d-0 of the frequency switching circuit 34.
Accordingly, the pulse signal a with an oscillation period of 1 second is sent to the light emission control circuit 3.
Supply to 6. Therefore, the light emitting diode 5a emits light at one second intervals, and detects when the user approaches from 60 to 70 cm (61). At this time, a signal cwt similar to the output signal a of the oscillator 35 at this time is supplied to the AND gate 32 via a separately provided main control circuit, so that the light receiving transistor 5b can be detected. FIG. 5(b) shows the approach state of the user, and it is assumed that the user approaches at time t1 (62y). This time t1 is immediately after the generation of the oscillation signal a for light emission, and the light receiving transistor 5b
is time t2. The reflected light of the emitted light based on the oscillation signal a at t3 is detected. As a result of this detection, a detection signal (corresponding to signal a) generated by the light receiving unit 31 is input to the counter 33. The counter 33 is set to “2” as a preset value.
is set, the pulse signal C is not responded to the first detection signal at time t2, and the pulse signal C is generated at the falling edge of the second detection signal at time t3. That is, the counter 33 is for distinguishing between the approach of a user and noise, and does not respond when there is only one detection signal.

Since the frequency switching circuit 34 is set by the generation of this pulse signal C, its output logic becomes d-1, and the frequency of the output signal a of the oscillator 35 increases to a period of 0.2 seconds.

As a result, the light emitting control circuit 36 enables the light emitting diode 6a to emit light at intervals of 0.2 seconds, and to detect when the user approaches the water spout 4 by extending his or her hand to a distance of about 20 cm. (63) At this time, the oscillator 3 at this time is sent to the AND gates 42 and 43 via the main control circuit.
A signal cw2 similar to the output signal a of No. 5 is supplied to enable detection of the light receiving transistor 6b. Suppose that the user holds out his hand after time t3 in Figure 5 (a
4y) Counter 45, like counter 33, sends two pulses at time t4. It counts at t5 and generates a pulse signal e. Since the pulse signal e sets the water spouting switching circuit 47, its output logic becomes g=1, and the water spouting driving circuit 49 controls the electromagnetic valve 10 to open, and water is spouted from the water spouting port 4 (66).

When the user moves away at time t6, the light receiving unit 41 stops sending out the detection signal. Therefore, the AND gate 42 does not generate an output, but the AND gate 43 generates an output from the inverter 4.
4, one input is always at logic 1, so the AND gate 43 sends out the same signal cw2 as the output signal a of the oscillator (67). The counter 46 has a preset value of “7”.
”, and after the user leaves at time t6, t7. t8. t9. tlo.

tit, t12. After counting t13 and seven input pulses, a pulse signal f is generated (68n). This pulse signal f is generated by the water spouting drive circuit 49 in order to reset the water spouting switching circuit 47 and setting its output logic to g=1. The electromagnetic valve 10 is controlled to close, and water discharging from the water spout 4 is stopped (69). At this time, the output pulse f of the counter 46 is inputted to the reset terminal of the frequency switching circuit 34 via the delay circuit 48, so the frequency switching circuit 34 is reset after a certain period of time after the water stops, and the output logic d=o
becomes. Therefore, the oscillator 35 supplies the pulse signal a with an oscillation period of 1 second to the light emission control circuit 36, and the light emitting diode 5a
returns to the initial standby state in which it emits light at 1 second intervals to detect when the user approaches 60 to 70 cm (63-64-6
5→61), when the user puts out his/her hand again within the delay time of the delay circuit 48, the frequency switching circuit 34 is still in the set state and the light emitting diode 6a is driven at 0.2 second intervals according to the light emitting drive circuit 36. Since the light receiving transistor 6b is in an operable state, the water discharging switching circuit 4 is activated.
7 is activated again and water can be spouted.

Figure 7 schematically shows the above operation.
A mode from the standby state until the first approach is detected, B mode until the hand is detected and water is spouted, C mode from water spout to water stop, and then returning to standby A mode, and then B mode and C This shows that there are cases where the mode repeats and returns to the standby A mode. Note that, in the claims, the classification is based on the switching control mode of the proximity detection control system 30, regardless of such classification.

Further, as understood from the above description, according to the present invention, the main parts of the configuration shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 can be configured by a microprocessor.

Furthermore, according to the above configuration, power consumption in the standby state can be suppressed, and after a user is detected at a relatively long distance, a quick response can be achieved by shortening the detection timing cycle. This makes it possible to provide an automatic faucet device with overall low power consumption and good responsiveness.
This invention is most suitable for application to a battery-powered faucet device.

(Effects of the Invention) According to the present invention, as described above, until the approach of the user is detected at a relatively long distance, the light emitting unit waits at a relatively long interval, and once the approach is detected, the light is emitted at a relatively short distance. By configuring water to be spouted by switching to a relatively short light emitting interval that enables detection of water, an automatic faucet device that can spout water immediately upon the approach of a user, has good responsiveness, is easy to use, and consumes little power can be obtained. be able to.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a wash basin to which an automatic faucet device according to an embodiment of the invention is applied, and FIGS. 2 and 3 are explanatory diagrams of main parts of an automatic faucet device according to an embodiment of the invention FIG. 4 is a system diagram of an automatic faucet device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a timing chart for explaining the operation of the automatic faucet device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a system diagram of an automatic faucet device according to an embodiment of the present invention. A flowchart for explaining the operation of the automatic faucet device according to the embodiment,
FIG. 7 is a schematic explanatory diagram of the operation of the automatic faucet device according to the embodiment of the present invention. In the drawing, 3 is a flush, 4 is a spout, 5°6 is a proximity detection means, 20 is a control unit, 30 is a proximity detection control system (first control circuit), 40 is a water spout control system (second control circuit) ). Figure 2 Figure 3

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) An infrared detection unit having proximity detection means including a light emitting element and a light receiving element, a first control circuit that drives and controls this infrared detection unit, and a first control circuit that controls a water supply system based on the detection signal of the infrared detection unit. In the automatic faucet device, the first control circuit is configured to detect the approach of a user at a relatively large time interval and at a relatively large range.
the infrared detection unit is operated in a control mode, and after detecting the approach of the user in this first control mode, the approach of the user is detected at a relatively short time interval and a relatively short range; The automatic water heater is characterized in that the infrared detection unit is operated in a second control mode, and the second control circuit is instructed to be operated after detecting the approach of the user in the second control mode. Stopper device. (2) In the device according to claim 1, the infrared detection unit includes the first control circuit of the first control circuit.
and a plurality of proximity detection means each driven separately in the second control mode. (3) In the device according to claim 1, the infrared detection unit includes the first control circuit of the first control circuit.
and an automatic faucet device characterized in that it has the same proximity detection means that are respectively driven in the second control mode. (4) An automatic faucet device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the driving power source of the device is a battery.