WO2013001896A1

WO2013001896A1 - Detection distance setting device and automatic faucet apparatus provided with detection distance setting device

Info

Publication number: WO2013001896A1
Application number: PCT/JP2012/060461
Authority: WO
Inventors: 伸明板頭; 秀幸若林; 長門堀部; 宙奥澤
Original assignee: 株式会社Ｌｉｘｉｌ
Priority date: 2011-06-30
Filing date: 2012-04-18
Publication date: 2013-01-03
Also published as: TW201307641A; JP2013015335A; JP5856399B2

Abstract

Provided are a detection distance setting device capable of preventing the malfunction of an apparatus, and an automatic faucet apparatus provided with the detection distance setting device. An automatic faucet apparatus (1) is provided with a spout (4), an electromagnetic valve (5), and a detection distance setting device (6). A water discharge port (8) is provided at the leading end (4b) of the spout (4). The electromagnetic valve (5) enables the change between the discharge and the stop of water from the water discharge port (8). The detection distance setting device (6) is provided with a detection sensor (9) for detecting whether or not a detection object approaches the leading end (4b) of the spout (4), and a controller (10). The controller (10) causes an infrared light emitting element (12) to emit light to the bottom face (3a) of a basin (3), compares a value from a position detection element (13) and a reference determination value which the position detection element (13) outputs when receiving reflected light from the bottom face (3a) of the basin (3) located within a predetermined reference determination distance, and determines a determination value on the basis of the reference determination value when determining that the bottom face (3a) of the basin (3) is located outside the reference determination distance.

Description

Detection distance setting device and automatic faucet device provided with this detection distance setting device

The present invention provides, for example, a detection distance setting device for determining a reference value when a detection object is located within a determination distance from a position detection element such as an automatic water faucet device, and starts a water discharge operation, and the detection distance setting. The present invention relates to an automatic faucet device provided with the device.

Conventionally, an automatic faucet device (see, for example, Patent Document 1) has been used as an example of a device that starts an operation such as water discharge when a detected object is located within a determination distance from a position detection element. The automatic water faucet device disclosed in Patent Document 1 and the like guides water from a spout having a water outlet facing the bottom of a water receiver such as a bowl or a sink at the tip, and water from a water supply source to the water outlet. And a detection distance setting device including a pipe, an on-off valve capable of changing water discharge and water stop of the water flow in the pipe to change water discharge and water stop from the water discharge port.

The detection distance setting device includes a detection sensor that is provided in the spout and detects whether a detection object such as a human hand is approaching the tip of the spout, and the open / close valve based on a value detected by the detection sensor And a control device for controlling.

The detection sensor includes a light emitting element and a position detection element arranged in parallel with each other. For example, the light emitting element emits light toward the bottom of the water receiver. The detection sensor receives the reflected light from the detected object and outputs a value corresponding to the position of the received reflected light to the control device. The detection sensor emits light from the light emitting element, and the position detection element receives reflected light from the detected object, and outputs a value according to the position of the reflected light received by the position detection element toward the control device, The distance to the detection object is detected.

The control device determines whether or not the distance to the detected object detected by the position detection element is equal to or smaller than the determination distance, and determines that the distance to the detected object detected by the position detection element is equal to or smaller than the determination distance. Open the valve and let the water spout out. When the control device determines that the distance to the detected object detected by the position detection element is not less than the determination distance, the control device closes the on-off valve or keeps the on-off valve closed, and does not discharge water from the water outlet.

Further, the control device, that is, the detection distance setting device sets the above-described determination distance. The control device causes the light emitting element to emit light toward the bottom of the water receiver, and causes the detection sensor to detect the distance to the bottom surface of the water receiver when there is no detection object such as a human hand or tableware. Then, the control device sets a predetermined distance (for example, about 10 cm) shorter than the distance to the bottom surface of the water receiver as the determination distance.

The automatic faucet device described above opens the on-off valve and discharges water from the water outlet when the detected object approaches the detection sensor and is positioned within the determination distance set by the detection distance setting device.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-194783

Incidentally, the automatic faucet device described in Patent Document 1 sets the determination distance based on the distance to the bottom surface of the water receiver. On the other hand, the automatic faucet device described above is installed in various and diverse places such as outdoor drinking fountains, indoor hand washing places, and kitchens. In other words, the automatic water faucet device is installed in a place where the distance from the detection sensor to the bottom surface of the water receiver is included in a range that can be detected by the detection sensor. For this reason, in the automatic faucet device described above, the determination distance described above is substantially equal to the distance from the detection sensor to the bottom surface of the water receiver.

The automatic water faucet device described in Patent Document 1 or the like is installed between the detection sensor and the bottom surface of the water receiver, particularly when installed in a place where the distance to the bottom surface of the detection sensor is relatively long. When the distance is within the range that can be detected by the detection sensor, the determination distance is also a relatively long distance. For this reason, when the detected object is located near the bottom surface of the water receiver, the automatic water faucet device discharges water from the water discharge port even when water discharge is unnecessary. As described above, the automatic faucet device described in Patent Document 1 described above may cause water discharge when not intended, that is, perform an unintended operation, and may deteriorate usability.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a detection distance setting device capable of preventing an unintended operation and an automatic water faucet device including the detection distance setting device.

In order to achieve the above object, a detection distance setting device according to the present invention includes a light emitting element that emits light, and the light emitting element emits light to receive reflected light from a detection object, and according to the distance to the detection object. A position detecting element that outputs a value that changes in value, a value according to the distance to the detected object detected by the position detecting element, and reflected light from the detected object located at a determination distance A determination unit that compares the determination value output from the position detection element to determine whether or not the detected object is located within the determination distance; and a setting unit that sets the determination value. In the detection distance setting device, when the setting unit sets the determination value, the light emitting element is caused to emit light toward a relative detection object opposed to the light emitting element, and a value from the position detecting element, Positioned at a predetermined reference judgment distance Comparing the reference determination value output by the position detection element when receiving the reflected light from the relative detection object, and determining that the relative detection object is located outside the reference determination distance; The determination value is determined based on the reference determination value.

In the detection distance setting device, when the setting unit sets a determination value, that is, a determination distance, when a value from the position detection element and reflected light from a relative detection object located at a predetermined reference determination distance are received. Based on the reference determination value, it is determined whether or not the relative detection object is located outside the reference determination distance. When the setting unit determines that the relative detection object is located outside the reference determination distance, the setting unit determines the determination distance based on the reference determination distance. For this reason, the detection distance setting device can prevent the determination distance from being a value far from the reference determination distance, that is, a relatively long value of about 1 m, for example. Therefore, in the detection distance setting device, the position detection element can be prevented from detecting a detection object or the like that is relatively far from the detection sensor. Therefore, a device that includes this detection distance setting device and operates when the detected object is positioned within the determination distance can prevent unintended operations and can improve usability.

Further, in the detection distance setting device, when the setting unit sets the determination value, the value from the position detection element and the relative position that is set in a rated distance that is predetermined and shorter than the reference determination distance. When comparing the rated value output by the position detection element when receiving reflected light from the detected object and determining that the relative detected object is located within the rated distance, it is based on the rated value. Determining the determination value and determining that the relative detection object is located outside the rated distance, the rated distance is increased stepwise, and the relative position positioned at the rated distance extended stepwise is determined. The rated value output from the position detection element when receiving reflected light from the sensing object is compared with the value from the position detection element, and the determination value is determined based on the rated value, and the rating Distance is the standard judgment Exceeding the release, it is preferable to determine the judgment value based on the reference judgment value.

In this detection distance setting device, when the setting unit sets a determination value, that is, a determination distance, a value to be compared with a value from the position detection element is reflected from a relative detection object located at a rated distance shorter than the reference determination distance. Use the rated value when receiving light. When the setting unit determines that the relative detection object is located within the rated distance, the setting unit determines a determination value based on the rated value. For this reason, the detection distance setting device can reliably make the determination distance shorter than the reference determination distance even when the distance between the position detection element and the relative detection object is shorter than the reference determination distance. It is possible to reliably prevent an unintended operation of the device including the detection distance setting device. Further, when the setting unit determines that the relative detection object is located outside the rated distance, the setting unit increases the rated distance stepwise to determine the determination value. For this reason, the detection distance setting device can set the determination distance to an appropriate distance based on the distance from the minimum rated distance to the reference determination distance. Therefore, the device provided with the detection distance setting device can surely prevent an unintended operation, and the usability can be improved with certainty.

An automatic faucet device according to the present invention includes the detection distance setting device according to claim 2, and the light emitting element and the position detection element are provided in a spout relative to a water receiver as the relative detection object. In addition, the light emitting element emits light toward the water receiver, and water is discharged from the spout when the determination unit determines that the detected object is located within the determination distance.

This automatic faucet device is equipped with the detection distance setting device described above, and when the rated distance increases stepwise, it will gradually approach the water receiver as a relative detection object, so the judgment distance is determined from the minimum rated distance as a reference. An appropriate distance can be set based on the distance to the determination distance. Moreover, the automatic faucet device can reliably set the range for starting water discharge between the position detection element and the water receiver, and can surely prevent unintended operation, that is, unintentional water discharge.

Furthermore, in the automatic faucet device, when the setting unit determines the determination value based on the rated value or the reference determination value, the shortening distance is shorter by a predetermined distance than the rated distance or the reference determination value. It is preferable that a shortening value detected by the position detection element when the relative detection object is positioned is set as the determination value.

This automatic water faucet apparatus determines a shortened value according to a shortened distance shorter than the rated distance or the reference judgment distance when determining the judgment value based on the rated value or the reference judgment value, so that an unintended operation, that is, Unintentional water discharge can be prevented more reliably.

The detection distance setting device and the automatic water faucet device according to the present invention can prevent an unintended operation because the determination distance does not become a value far from the reference determination distance, and is easy to use.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an automatic faucet device according to an embodiment. Drawing 2 is a side view explaining the state where the automatic faucet device concerning an embodiment was installed. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the automatic faucet device according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing processing of the control device of the automatic water faucet device according to the embodiment. Drawing 5 is an explanatory view showing the situation where the judgment value of the control device of the automatic faucet device concerning an embodiment is set up.

Hereinafter, embodiments of a detection distance setting device and an automatic faucet device according to the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings. In addition, this invention is not limited by this embodiment. In addition, constituent elements in the following embodiments include those that can be easily replaced by those skilled in the art or those that are substantially the same.

1 is a perspective view showing an automatic faucet device according to the embodiment, FIG. 2 is a side view illustrating a state in which the automatic faucet device according to the embodiment is installed, and FIG. 3 is an automatic water faucet according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing processing of the control device of the automatic water faucet device according to the embodiment, and FIG. 5 sets determination values of the control device of the automatic water faucet device according to the embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the condition to do.

The automatic faucet device 1 of the present embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is typically installed in a sink or a wash basin of a building, and water from a water supply 2 (shown in FIG. 3) as a water supply source. Is discharged (discharged) toward the bowl 3 (shown in FIG. 2) as a water receiver such as the sink or sink of the sink.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the automatic faucet device 1 includes a spout 4 (shown in FIG. 1), a pipe 15, an electromagnetic valve 5 (shown in FIG. 3) as an on-off valve, and a detection distance setting device. 6 (shown in FIG. 3).

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the spout 4 has a base end 4a installed on a wall surface 7 of the building. The spout 4 has a longitudinal direction substantially orthogonal to the wall surface 7 and parallel to the horizontal direction. The spout 4 is formed in a column shape. The spout 4 is installed above the bowl 3 as a water receiver installed on the wall surface 7. The spout 4 extends from the wall surface 7 toward the upper center of the bowl 3. The bowl 3 forms a relative detection object that faces a position detection element 13 of the detection sensor 9 described later. In the present embodiment, the bottom surface 3a of the bowl 3 faces the position detection element 13 of the detection sensor 9 along the vertical direction.

Further, a spout 8 is provided at the tip 4b of the spout 4 as shown in FIG. The water discharge port 8 opens on the lower surface of the spout 4. The planar shape of the water discharge port 8 is formed in a round shape. The water discharge port 8 is provided in the center of the spout 4 in the width direction. A filter that foams the water to be discharged is provided in the water discharge port 8.

Furthermore, an internal piping member 16 connected to the piping 15 is provided in the spout 4. The internal piping member 16 is made of, for example, a metal such as brass, and a flow path extending in the longitudinal direction and communicating with the water discharge port 8 is formed therein. The flow path is also opened at the base end portion 4 a of the spout 4. Further, the spout 4 accommodates a battery and a capacitor as a power source for opening and closing the electromagnetic valve 5.

The pipe 15 has one end connected to the water supply 2 as a water supply source and is passed through the wall surface 7 of the building. The other end of the pipe 15 is connected to the internal pipe member 16 of the spout 4 and communicates with the flow path of the internal pipe member 16. The pipe 15 guides water from the water supply 2 to the water outlet 8.

The electromagnetic valve 5 is provided in the base end portion 4 a of the spout 4. The operation state of the solenoid valve 5 is changed by a command from the control device 10 to be described later, and the flow of the water in the internal piping member 16 is opened and closed, that is, the water flowing through the water outlet 8 is discharged and stopped.

As shown in FIG. 3, the detection distance setting device 6 includes a detection sensor 9 and a control device 10 that serves as both a determination unit and a setting unit. The detection sensor 9 is provided in the front-end | tip part 4b of the spout 4 as shown in FIG.1 and FIG.2. Further, the detection sensor 9 is provided so as to be exposed on the above-described lower surface of the spout 4, and is provided closer to the tip of the spout 4 than the spout 8. As shown in FIG. 3, the detection sensor 9 includes a light receiving and emitting lens 11, an infrared light emitting element 12 as a light emitting element, and a position detecting element 13.

The light emitting / receiving lens 11 is made of a synthetic resin having translucency and is formed in a flat plate shape. The light receiving / emitting lens 11 is attached to the lower surface of the spout 4 so as to be substantially flush with the lower surface of the spout 4. The infrared light emitting element 12 and the position detecting element 13 are accommodated in the tip portion 4 b of the spout 4 and provided at a position overlapping the light receiving and emitting lens 11. The infrared light emitting element 12 and the position detection element 13 are arranged at intervals in the width direction of the spout 4 (arranged in parallel).

The infrared light emitting element 12 emits infrared rays or the like through the light receiving / emitting lens 11 toward the bottom surface 3a of the bowl 3 as a detection object such as a human hand 14 or a relative detection object. The position detection element 13 is a well-known PSD (Position Sensitive Detector) and receives reflected light reflected from a detection object such as a human hand 14 and the bottom surface 3 a of the bowl 3. The position detection element 13 outputs a signal toward the control device 10 when it receives a detection object such as a human hand 14 or reflected light reflected from the bottom surface 3 a of the bowl 3. The position detection element 13 changes the position of receiving the reflected light reflected from the detection object such as the human hand 14 and the bottom surface 3 a of the bowl 3 when the distance from the detection object and the bottom surface 3 a of the bowl 3 is different. When the position where the reflected light is received by the position detection element 13 changes, the current value or voltage value (corresponding to a value) of the signal output toward the control device 10 changes.

In this way, the position detection element 13 changes the position where the reflected light is received when the distance from the detected object or the bottom surface 3a of the bowl 3 is different, and the signal output toward the control device 10 when the received position changes. The current value or voltage value changes. The position detection element 13 outputs a signal whose value such as a current value or a voltage value changes to the control device 10 according to the detected object or the distance to the bottom surface 3 a of the bowl 3. In this way, the detection sensor 9 outputs a value such as a current value or a voltage value that changes in accordance with the detected object from the infrared light emitting element 12 and the position detection element 13 and the distance to the bottom surface 3a of the bowl 3. In this embodiment, as the distance between the infrared light emitting element 12 and the position detection element 13 of the detection sensor 9 and the bottom surface 3a of the detected object or the bowl 3 increases, the signal output by the position detection element 13 is increased. The voltage value gradually decreases.

The control device 10 is driven by electric power stored in a battery or a capacitor as a power source. The control device 10 is an arithmetic device that is housed in the spout 4 and includes a RAM, a ROM, a CPU, an input / output port, and a storage device (not shown). At least the position detection element 13 of the detection sensor 9 is connected to the input port of the control device 10. At least the electromagnetic valve 5 and the infrared light emitting element 12 of the detection sensor 9 are connected to the output port of the control device 10. The control device 10 controls the entire automatic faucet device 1 based on a value indicating that a detection object such as the hand 14 has approached the spout 4 detected by the detection sensor 9.

The control device 10 causes the infrared light emitting element 12 of the detection sensor 9 to emit light at predetermined time intervals when electric power is supplied from a battery or the like as a power source and a later-described determination value is written in the RAM or the like. And the control apparatus 10 compares the signal according to the distance to the detected object from the infrared light emitting element 12 and the position detecting element 13 of the detection sensor 9 with the determination value written in RAM etc., and the detected object is It is determined whether or not it is located within the determination distance H (shown in FIG. 2). In the present embodiment, when the voltage value of the signal from the position detection element 13 is smaller than the determination value, the detected object is located outside the determination distance H from the infrared light emitting element 12 and the position detection element 13 of the detection sensor 9. When the voltage value of the signal from the position detection element 13 is greater than or equal to the determination value, it is determined that the detected object is located within the determination distance H from the infrared light emitting element 12 and the position detection element 13. If the control device 10 determines that the detected object is located outside the determination distance H from the infrared light emitting element 12 and the position detecting element 13, the control device 10 keeps the electromagnetic valve 5 closed or closed so that the detected object is positioned. If it determines with it being located in the determination distance H from the detection element 13, the electromagnetic valve 5 will be opened and water will be discharged from the spout 8.

The determination value is a voltage of a signal output from the position detection element 13 of the detection sensor 9 when the detected object is positioned at a position where the distance from the infrared light emitting element 12 and the position detection element 13 is the determination distance H. Value. The determination distance H means that when a detection object such as a hand approaches the tip 4b of the spout 4 and discharges water from the water discharge port 8, the detection sensor 9 does not detect the bottom surface 3a of the bowl 3 as a detection object. This is the distance where water discharged from the water discharge port 8 is immediately applied to a detected object such as the hand 14 and does not cause a practical problem. That is, the determination distance H is shorter than the distance between the detection sensor 9 and the bottom surface 3a of the bowl 3, and the water discharged from the water discharge port 8 is immediately applied to the detection object. The distance is not too far from the tip 4b of the spout 4.

Moreover, the control apparatus 10 is the space | interval which light-emits the infrared rays light emitting element 12 when the electromagnetic valve 5 is opened rather than the predetermined time which is the space | interval which makes the infrared light emitting element 12 light-emit when the electromagnetic valve 5 is closed. The predetermined time is sufficiently short. The control device 10 can immediately follow water discharge from the water discharge port 8 according to the movement of the detected object. That is, in a state where water is being discharged from the water discharge port 8, the control device 10 can immediately stop water when the detected object is separated from the tip of the spout 4 by the determination distance H.

In addition, when the battery as the power source is removed from the spout 4, the control device 10 volatilizes the determination value written in the RAM or the like and loses the determination value.

Further, the control device 10 emits the infrared light emitting element 12 at every predetermined time interval when the power from the battery as the power source is supplied, and the flowchart shown in FIG. 4 shows an example. Run repeatedly.

In step S1, the control device 10 determines whether or not a determination value is written in the RAM or the like. When it is determined that the determination value is written, the process proceeds to step S2, and when it is determined that the determination value is not written. Proceed to step S3. In step S2, the control device 10 determines whether or not the state in which the detection sensor 9 has not detected the detection object has continued for a predetermined time such as 1 hour 30 minutes. If it is determined that the predetermined time has not elapsed, the process returns to step S1. Thus, when the determination value is written, the control device 10 does not perform the operation of setting the determination value after step S3 until the detection sensor 9 does not detect the detected object for a predetermined time. That is, the control device 10 does not perform the operation of setting the determination value after step S3 when the electromagnetic valve 5 is frequently opened and closed. In step S1, if the control device 10 determines that the determination value is not written, the process proceeds to step S3. If the determination value is not written, the control device 10 immediately performs the operation of setting the determination value after step S3. Do.

In step S3, the control device 10 determines whether or not the voltage value (detection value) of the signal from the position detection element 13 of the detection sensor 9 is equal to or greater than a predetermined initial value. If S3 is repeated and it is determined that the value is lower than the initial value, the process proceeds to step S4. The initial value is a value that can determine whether or not the detection sensor 9 is covered with a cover (not shown). That is, the initial value is sufficiently smaller than the voltage value of the signal from the position detecting element 13 that receives the reflected light reflected from the inner surface of the cover when the infrared light emitting element 12 emits light when the cover is covered, The value is sufficiently larger than the voltage value of the signal from the position detection element 13 that receives the reflected light reflected from the bottom surface 3a of the bowl 3 and the detection object when the infrared light emitting element 12 emits light when the cover is removed. Thus, the control device 10 repeats step S3 until the cover that protects the detection sensor 9 from the spout 4 is removed.

In step S4, the control device 10 determines whether or not the voltage value (detection value) of the signal from the position detection element 13 of the detection sensor 9 is equal to or higher than the rated value. If it is determined that the value is lower than the rated value, the process proceeds to step S5. Note that the rated value is, for example, a reference determination distance J (shown in FIG. 5) to be described later in which the distance between the infrared light emitting element 12 and the position detecting element 13 of the detection sensor 9 and the bottom surface 3a of the bowl 3 is 125 mm, for example. The voltage value of the signal output by the position detection element 13 when the rated distance R1 is sufficiently shorter than the rated distance R1 (shown in FIG. 5), for example, 90 mm. That is, the rated value is a predetermined value. The rated value is a voltage value of a signal output from the position detection element 13 when the reflected light from the bottom surface 3a of the bowl 3 located at a sufficiently short rated distance R1 that is sufficiently shorter than the reference determination distance J is received.

In step S7, the control device 10 determines a determination value based on the rated value, writes the determined determination value in the RAM or the like, and returns to step S1. In the present embodiment, the control device 10 is configured such that the bottom surface 3a of the bowl 3 has a predetermined predetermined distance P such as 20 mm, for example, 20 mm higher than the rated distance R1 from the infrared light emitting element 12 and the position detection element 13 of the detection sensor 9. The short value detected by the position detection element 13 of the detection sensor 9 when the short distance S1 (shown in FIG. 5) such as 70 mm is short (shown in FIG. 5) is determined as the determination value. The shortened value is a case where the distance between the infrared light emitting element 12 and the position detecting element 13 of the detection sensor 9 and the bottom surface 3a of the bowl 3 is a shortened distance S1 shorter than the rated distance R1 by a predetermined distance P. In addition, the voltage value of the signal output from the position detection element 13 is obtained. That is, the shortened value is a signal output from the position detection element 13 when the reflected light from the bottom surface 3a of the bowl 3 located at a shortened distance S1 that is a predetermined distance P shorter than the rated distance R1 is received. It is a voltage value. As will be described later, when the process proceeds to step S7 after repeating step S4 to step S6, the control device 10 determines more than the rated distances R2, R3, R4 (shown in FIG. 5). The shortened value corresponding to the shortened distances S2, S3, S4... (Shown in FIG. 5) is determined as the determination value.

Thus, in step S7, when the distance between the infrared light emitting element 12 and the position detecting element 13 of the detection sensor 9 and the bottom surface 3a of the bowl 3 is shorter than the rated distance R1, the control device 10 The determination distance H is set based on the distance R1. Thus, when setting the determination value, the control device 10 causes the infrared light emitting element 12 to emit light toward the bottom surface 3a of the bowl 3 to which the infrared light emitting element 12 is opposed, and the value from the position detecting element 13 is set in advance. The bottom surface of the bowl 3 is compared with the rated value output by the position detection element 13 when the reflected light from the bottom surface 3a of the bowl 3 positioned at the rated distance R1 which is set and shorter than the reference determination distance J is received. If it is determined that 3a is located within the rated distance R1, a determination value is determined based on the rated value.

In step S5, the control device 10 extends the rated distance R1 by a predetermined extension distance E (shown in FIG. 5) such as 10 mm, and proceeds to step S6 as a new rated distance R2. In step S6, the control device 10 determines whether or not the reference determination value is equal to or greater than the new rating value. If it is determined that the reference determination value is equal to or greater than the new rating value, the control device 10 proceeds to step S8. Return. The new rated value is assumed to be the position detecting element 13 when the distance between the infrared light emitting element 12 and the position detecting element 13 of the detection sensor 9 and the bottom surface 3a of the bowl 3 is a new rated distance R2. Is the voltage value of the output signal. That is, the new rated value is a voltage value of a signal output from the position detecting element 13 when the reflected light from the bottom surface 3a of the bowl 3 located at a new rated distance R2 is received.

In step S8, the control device 10 determines a determination value based on the reference determination value, writes the determined determination value in a RAM or the like, and returns to step S1. In the present embodiment, the control device 10 is configured such that the bottom surface 3a of the bowl 3 is shorter than the reference determination distance J by a predetermined distance P from the infrared light emitting element 12 and the position detection element 13 of the detection sensor 9, for example, 105 mm. A shortened value detected by the position detection element 13 of the detection sensor 9 when the distance is shortened S (shown in FIG. 5) is determined as a determination value. The shortened value is a shortened distance S where the distance between the infrared light emitting element 12 and the position detecting element 13 of the detection sensor 9 and the bottom surface 3a of the bowl 3 is shorter than the reference determination distance J by a predetermined distance P. In this case, the voltage value of the signal output from the position detection element 13 is obtained. That is, the shortened value is a signal output from the position detection element 13 when the reflected light from the bottom surface 3a of the bowl 3 located at a shortened distance S shorter than the reference determination distance J by a predetermined distance P is received. The voltage value is

Thus, in step S8, when the distance between the infrared light emitting element 12 and the position detecting element 13 of the detection sensor 9 and the bottom surface 3a of the bowl 3 is longer than the reference determination distance J, the control device 10 Based on the reference determination distance J, the determination distance H is set. Thus, when setting the determination value, the control device 10 causes the infrared light emitting element 12 to emit light toward the bottom surface 3a of the bowl 3 to which the infrared light emitting element 12 is opposed, and the value from the position detecting element 13 is set in advance. When the reflected light from the bottom surface 3a of the bowl 3 located at the determined reference judgment distance J is received, the reference judgment value output by the position detection element 13 is compared, and the bottom face 3a of the bowl 3 is the reference judgment distance. If it is determined that it is located outside J, a determination value is determined based on the reference determination value.

Further, the control device 10 continues until the reference determination value becomes larger than the new rated value, that is, until the rated distances R2, R3, R4... RN (shown in FIG. 5) become longer than the reference determination distance J. .., Step S4 to step S6 are repeated while the rated distances R1, R2, R3, R4. The controller 10 repeats steps S4 to S6 while gradually increasing the rated distances R1, R2, R3, R4. When it is determined that the bottom surface 3a is located outside the rated distances R1, R2, R3, R4,..., The rated distances R1, R2, R3, R4. The rated value output from the position detection element 13 when the reflected light from the bottom surface 3a of the bowl 3 located at the rated distances R2, R3, R4... RN is received and the value from the position detection element 13 are compared. Then, a determination value is determined based on the rated value.

In the automatic faucet device 1 having the above-described configuration, when a detection object such as a human hand 14 is located within a determination distance H from the infrared light emitting element 12 and the position detection element 13 of the detection sensor 9 provided at the tip of the spout 4. The control device 10 opens the electromagnetic valve 5 and continuously discharges water from the water outlet 8. Further, the automatic faucet device 1 executes the flowchart shown in FIG. 4 when the state in which the detection sensor 9 has not detected the detected object has elapsed, for example, 1 hour 30 minutes, and controls the determination value again. Write to the RAM of the apparatus 10.

When the control device 10 sets the determination value, that is, the determination distance H, the detection distance setting device 6 having the above-described configuration is configured so that the value from the position detection element 13 and the pot 3 positioned at the predetermined reference determination distance J are set. Whether or not the bottom surface 3a of the bowl 3 is located outside the reference determination distance J is determined based on the reference determination value when the reflected light from the bottom surface 3a is received. When the control device 10 determines that the bottom surface 3a of the bowl 3 is located outside the reference determination distance J, the control device 10 determines the determination distance H based on the reference determination distance J. It can be prevented that the value is far away, that is, a relatively long value of about 1 m, for example. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the position detection element 13 from detecting a detection object or the like that is relatively far from the detection sensor 9. Therefore, the automatic faucet device 1 or the like as the device that includes the detection distance setting device 6 and operates when the detected object is located within the determination distance H can prevent unintended operation and improve usability. Can do.

The detection distance setting device 6 has rated distances R1, R2 shorter than the reference determination distance J as values to be compared with the values from the position detection element 13 when the control device 10 sets a determination value, that is, the determination distance H. , R3, R4..., The rated value when the reflected light from the bottom surface 3a of the bowl 3 is received is used. And control device 10 will determine a judgment value based on a rated value, if it judges with bottom face 3a of bowl 3 being located in rated distance R1, R2, R3, R4 .... Therefore, even if the distance between the infrared light emitting element 12 and the position detection element 13 of the position detection element 13 and the bottom surface 3a of the bowl 3 is shorter than the reference determination distance J, the detection distance setting device 6 is The determination distance H can be reliably made shorter than the reference determination distance J. The automatic faucet device 1 or the like as a device including the detection distance setting device 6 can reliably prevent malfunction. Further, when the control device 10 determines that the bottom surface 3a of the bowl 3 is located outside the rated distances R1, R2, R3, R4,..., The rated distances R1, R2, R3, R4,. Extend to determine the judgment value. For this reason, the detection distance setting device 6 can set the determination distance H to an appropriate distance based on the distance from the minimum rated distance R1 to the reference determination distance J. Therefore, the automatic faucet device 1 or the like as a device provided with the detection distance setting device 6 can surely prevent an unintended operation and can improve usability with certainty.

Moreover, the automatic faucet device 1 having the above-described configuration includes the above-described detection distance setting device 6 and when the rated distances R1, R2, R3, R4. Therefore, the determination distance H can be set to an appropriate distance based on the distance from the minimum rated distance R1 to the reference determination distance J. The automatic faucet device 1 can reliably set a range in which the automatic faucet device 1 within the determination distance H from the position detection element 13 starts water discharge between the position detection element 13 and the bowl 3. Therefore, the automatic water faucet device 1 can reliably prevent unintended operation, that is, unintentional water discharge.

Furthermore, when the automatic faucet device 1 determines the determination value based on the rated value or the reference determination value, the shortened distances S1, S2 shorter than the rated distances R1, R2, R3, R4. , S3, S4... Are determined as the determination values. For this reason, the automatic water faucet device 1 can more reliably prevent unintended operation, that is, unintentional water discharge.

In the embodiment described above, the determination distance H is set to the rated distances R1, R2, R3, R4... Or the shortened distances S1, S2, S3, S4. However, the present invention need not be limited to this. That is, in the present invention, the automatic faucet device 1 sets the determination distance H to the rated distance if it is shorter than the distance between the infrared light emitting element 12 and the position detection element 13 of the detection sensor 9 and the bottom surface 3a of the water receiver 3. R1, R2, R3, R4... Or the reference determination distance J may be equal to or longer than the rated distances R1, R2, R3, R4. In the above-described embodiment, the stretching distance E is made constant, but the present invention need not be limited to this. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the control device 10 repeatedly executes the flowchart shown in FIG. 4 as an example. However, the flowchart repeatedly executed by the control device 10 within a range where the object of the present invention can be achieved. You may change suitably. In the above-described embodiment, the determination value is determined based on the voltage value of the signal as the value from the position detection element 13, but in the present invention, for example, the current value is not limited to the voltage value. The determination value may be determined based on other values.

In the embodiment described above, the detection distance setting device 6 used for the automatic faucet device 1 is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention can be applied to a detection distance setting device for automatically opening a lid of a sitting toilet, a detection distance setting device for use in an automatic faucet of a men's urinal, and the like. In these cases, the relative detection object is of course not limited to the bottom surface 3a of the bowl 3.

The detection distance setting device 6 and the automatic faucet device 1 according to the above-described embodiment of the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope described in the claims. .

1 Automatic faucet device 3 Bowl (water receiver, relative detection object)
4 Spout 6 Detection distance setting device 10 Control device (determination unit, setting unit)
12 Infrared light emitting device (light emitting device)
13 Position detection element 14 Hand (detected object)
E Extension distance H Determination distance J Reference determination distance P Predetermined distance R1, R2, R3, R4, RN Rated distance S, S1, S2, S3, S4, SN Shortened distance

Claims

A light emitting element that emits light;
The light emitting element emits light and receives reflected light from the detected object, and outputs a value that changes according to the distance to the detected object; and
The value according to the distance to the detected object detected by the position detecting element is compared with the determination value output by the position detecting element when the reflected light from the detected object located at the determination distance is received. A determination unit that determines whether or not the detected object is located within the determination distance;
A setting unit for setting the determination value;
In the detection distance setting device with
When the setting unit sets the determination value,
The light emitting element is caused to emit light toward a relative detection object to which the light emitting element is opposed, and a value from the position detection element and reflected light from the relative detection object located at a predetermined reference determination distance are received. When the relative determination object is determined to be located outside the reference determination distance by comparing the reference determination value output by the position detection element, the determination value is determined based on the reference determination value. ,
A detection distance setting device characterized by that.
When the setting unit sets the determination value,
A value from the position detection element, and a rated value output by the position detection element when receiving reflected light from the relative detection object that is predetermined and is located at a rated distance shorter than the reference determination distance, Compared to,
When it is determined that the relative detection object is located within the rated distance, the determination value is determined based on the rated value,
If it is determined that the relative detection object is located outside the rated distance, the rated distance is gradually increased, and the reflected light from the relative detection object positioned at the gradually extended rated distance is received. When comparing the rated value output by the position detection element and the value from the position detection element, the determination value is determined based on the rated value,
When the rated distance exceeds the reference determination distance, the determination value is determined based on the reference determination value.
The detection distance setting device according to claim 1.
The detection distance setting device according to claim 2, and
The light emitting element and the position detection element are provided in a spout relative to the water receiver as the relative detection object, and the light emitting element emits light toward the water receiver,
When the determination unit determines that the detected object is located within the determination distance, water is discharged from the spout.
An automatic faucet device characterized by that.
When the setting unit determines the determination value based on the rated value or the reference determination value, the position is determined when the relative detection object is positioned at a shortened distance shorter than the rated distance or the reference determination value by a predetermined distance. The shortened value detected by the detection element is set as the determination value.
The automatic faucet device according to claim 3.